TEA. 



85 



of two taels five mace, does not include shipping and otlaer charges ; 

 the old duty was five taels, and included all charges paid the Hong 

 merchants. The export by sea is now about 97 millions of lbs. 



The following was the retuimed value of the tea exported from 

 the five Chinese ports in 1844 and 1845 : — 



1844. 1845. 



Canton £2,910,474 £3,429,790 



Shanghae ........ 67,115 462,746 



Xingpo 2,000 2,000 



Amoy 544 



Foo-chow-foo .... 638 



£2,979,589 £3,895,718 



The average cost of tea in China at the ship's side is lOd. per 

 pound, while it is confidently asserted that it could be produced in 

 many parts of America at 5d. the pound. The great cost in China 

 is owing to the expensive transportation, the cultivation of the 

 fuel used, the absence of all economy of machinery, &c. It is 

 only by adulteration that tea is sold in China as cheap as lOd. In 

 America the beating and rolling of the leaves (one half of the 

 labor) could be done by the simplest machinery, fuel could be 

 economised by flues, &c. 



The Eussian teas, brought by caravans, are the most expensive 

 and best teas used in Europe. The Chinese themselves pay 7i 

 dollars per pound for the " Yen Pouchong " teas. 



Tull chests were exhibited in 1851, by Mr. Eipley, of various 

 Pekoe teas, some of which fetch 50s. per lb. in the China market ; 

 whilst 7s. is the very highest price any of the sort will fetch in Eng- 

 land, and this only as a fancy article. The plain and orange- scented 

 Pekoes now fetch little with us ; but as caravan teas, are pur- 

 chased by the wealthier Eussian families. The finest, however, 

 never leave China, being bought up by the Mandarins ; for though 

 the transit expenses add 3s. to 4s. per lb. to the value when sold 

 in Eussia, the highest market price in St. Petersburg is always 

 under 50s. Among these scented teas are various caper teas, 

 flavoured with chloranthus flowers and the buds of some species 

 of plants belonging to the orange tribe, magnolia fuscaia, olea 

 flowers, &c. The Cong Souchong, or Ning-young teas, are chiefly 

 purchased for the American market. Oolong tea is the favourite 

 drink in Calcutta, though less prized in England, its delicate flavor 

 being injured by the length of the voyage. Eor delicacy, no teas, 

 approach those usually called " Mandarin teas," which being 

 slightly fired and rather damp when in the fittest state for use, 

 will bear neither transport nor keeping. They are in great de- 

 mand among the wealthy Chinese, and average 20s. per lb in the 

 native market. — (Jin'y Eeports.) 



The consumption of tea in the United Kingdom may now be fairly 

 taken at fifty-four million pounds yearly, and sold at an average 

 price to the consumer of 4s. 6d., per pound. The mouey expended 

 for tea is upwards of twelve millions sterling. 



