TEA. 



93 



twenty years, show a considerable increase in the consumption of 

 tea in the United States, but not so great as in the article of coffee. 

 The establishment of tea shops, in all the large cities of America, 

 is a new feature in the retail trade, dating only some six years 

 back. 



The average rate of duty, which previously ranged between 

 thirty and thirty-four cents, per pound, was reduced in 1832 to 

 fourteen cents (7d.) a pound. 



The proportion of green to black used is shown by the followdng 

 return of the imports : — 



lbs. 



1844 . . Green . . . 10,131,837 



Black . . . 4,125,527 



Total . . 14,257,364 



1845 . . Green . , . 13,802,099 



Black . . . 6,950,459 



Total . . 20,752,558 



The large import of 1840, of 250,000 chests, of which 200,000 

 were green, was in anticipation of the disturbances arising from 

 the war with Grreat Britain, and the blockade of the ports. 



In 1850, there were 173,317 chests of green tea, and 91,017 of 

 black tea exported from China to America ; these quantities, with 

 a further portion purchased from England, made a total of about 

 twentv-three million lbs. of tea which crossed the Atlantic in 

 1850.^ 



The imports and exports of tea into the United States, in the 

 years ending Dec. 31st, 1848 and 1849, w^ere as follows : — 



IMPORTS. 



1849. 1848. 



lbs. lbs. 



Green . . 14,237,700 13,686,336 



Black . . 5,999,315 3,815,652 



Total .... 20,236,916 17,503,988 



EXPORTS. 



Green . . 230,470 262,708 



Black . . 186,650 194,212 



Total. . ..417,120 ' 456,920 



The value of tea imported into the United States during the 

 year ending June 30th, 1851, amounted to 4,798,006 dollars 

 (nearly £1,000,000 sterling) ; of this was re-exported a little 

 over 1,000,000 dollars worth, leaving for home consumption 

 3,668,141 dollars. 



The quality of tea depends much upon the season when the 

 leaves are picked, the mode in which it is prepared, as well as the 

 district in which it grows. 



The tea districts in China extend from the 27th degree to the 

 31st degree of north latitude, and, according to missionaries, it 

 thrives in the more northern provinces. Koempfer says it is cul- 



