T 11 E 
O NT H LY 
Vol. IX. I 
COLOMBO, OCTOBER ist, 1889. 
LNO. 4. 
TANNIN IN TEA. 
E have heard that disappoint- 
ment has been expressed in 
regard to the analyses of 
Ceylon tea at Melbourne in 
1880, (see page 211) because, 
instead of disoriminating 
tannin, "total extract" was 
given. The oourse pursued was in full appreciation of 
the standard by which buyers value teas. The main 
object with brokers and purchasers has hitherto been, 
not to meet our wishes, by favouring the use of 
Ceylon tea on its own merits, but the obtaining of 
*eas strong enough to bear a large admixture of 
China. What the Melbourne analyses did was to 
show that for purity and strength the Ceylon teas 
stood exceptionally high, while the flavour was 
delicate. The " total extraot " obtained by Mr. 
Dunn was, of course, mainly tannin, and we know 
by very trying experience, that no delicaoy of 
flavour, however highly it may be appreciated by 
consumers, will induce brokers and dealers to give pro- 
portionate prices for tea. Tea with a small proportion 
of tannin is a weak tea, and, as a writer in the Home 
and Colonial Mail very sensibly points out, the great 
superiority of Indian and Ceylon teas over those Of 
China consists in the larger amount of tannin in the 
former. That being so, when Indian or Ceylon teas 
are used alone, the great mistake has often been to 
put too large a quantity in the pot for infusion, 
and — worse still — to continue the infusion for 
too long a period, so that too large a proportion 
of the tannin is extracted. Of most Indian and 
Ceylon teas one teaspoonful is equal to two of 
the vast majority of China kinds. If the teapot 
•s well heated beforehand, if perfectly boiling wate r 
is used, and if a " cosy" is put over the teapot, 
five minutes or at the utmost seven ought to be the 
maximum period for infusion. If the tea is required to 
be kept for a longer period before being drunk, it 
ought to be poured into a second teapot, which 
has also been well heated and over whioh the 
cosy may be placed until the liquid ia poured 
into " the cups " [not cup] " which cheer but not 
inebriate." No practice has brought Indian and 
Ceylon teas more into discredit than that of allowing 
the infusion to soak for a quarter or even half- 
an-hour. In that time a strong but delicate tea 
becomes harsh and nauseous. The time seems 
approaching when there will be little or no China tea 
available for dealers to blend with Indian and Ceylon. 
When that period arrives, teas whioh on analysis 
give a small proportion of tannin may be paid for 
in the London and other markets in proportion to 
their delicacy, but as yet the teas which realiz e 
the highest prices are, as a rule, those whioh contain 
a high proportion of tannin, and so are good for 
mixing purposes. 
FRAUDULENT TEA MARKING. 
The details of the case in London, lately published 
at the instance of the Planters' Association afford 
ample testimony as to the gravity of the revela- 
tions made during the examination in bank- 
ruptcy proceedings of Mr. Whitewright of Messrs. 
Whitewright, Brown & Co. Of course the existence 
of much fraudulent procedure with regard to the 
Bale of tea had long been suspected and in some 
degree known ; but we doubt very much if either 
that suspicion or that knowledge extended to any- 
thing like the facts divulged during the examina- 
tion of the bankrupt referred to. It is very certain 
that to no class more than to the tea planters of 
Ceylon are these facts so pregnant with warning. 
Before entering further into the discussion of this 
matter, we may say that what has surprised _ us 
even more than the knowledge of the practices 
now ascertained, has been the light manner in which 
these appear to have been regarded by the Regis- 
trar of the Bankruptcy Court. It has always beep 
presumed that one of the main objects of investi- 
gation intrusted to that official was to take 
cognizance of, and severely punish, any acts of a 
fraudulent character whioh might be ascertained by 
him. One of his functions consists in an endeavor 
to safeguard commercial transactions by the up- 
holding of a high standard of commercial morality. 
Now we apprehend that no one can contend that the 
