WILSON, SMITHETT & CO.'S 
CEYLON TEA MEMORANDA FOR 1887. 
LONDON, Februaey 10th, 1888. 
The amount of Ceylon Tea brought to auction between January 1st to December 31st, 1887, was nearly 
double that sold in the previous twelvemonth and realized an average price of close upon Is. Id. per lb. 
against Is IJd in 1886. Considerable irregularity has characterised the market throughout the ^ear, the operations 
of dealers generally being carried out in a thorough hand to mouth way ; this may, we think, be attributed 
chiefly to two causes: firstly to the uncertainty in the minds of dealers as to the probable supply, and, secondly, 
to their experience of the early deterioration of Cetlon Tea. The first hindrance to a more regular market 
will be removed, of course, when the present acreage in Tea has come into full bearing, and the increase 
in the annual yield is no longer one of arithmetical progression; the second drawback is one to which we 
invite the earnest attention of planters. We look forward to seeing the fine delicate highgrown Teas of Ceylon 
come more and more into favor in those quarters where the finest descriptions of China Tea have hitherto 
held the supremacy, and where, by reason of the growing scarceness or inferiority of the latter, a large field 
lies open to the competition of a formidable rival. A very marked feature of fine China Tea has always been 
its keeping power; it not only keeps well but actually improves up to a certain time, and it is an everyday 
lament amongst connoisseurs of China Tea that sinee the days of the clippers, the arrivals of New Season's Teas have 
shewn no really fine quality, which means the London Market has seen them too soon. It is noticeable too that 
the early arrivals of New Season's Darjeelings also improve; when they are first put on the Market they taste 
green and raw, but nevertheless realise very full prices, and it is evident, from the competition they arouse, 
that they eventually ripen into full and flavoury Tea. We are of opinion, that over-withering and fermenting 
and too quick firing are chiefly responsible for the early deterioration of Ceylon Teas; the tine Chinas, we 
have alluded to, always have a somewhat greenish ont-turn and feel "spongy" when grasped and appear to 
have been literally " dried," whereas a great many Ceylons seem to be thoroughly " toasted ;" the leaf is 
parched, and after the first brisk burnt aroma has passed off, the Tea is dead and flat ; the use of machinery 
seems to have brought with it the temptation to fire the greatest amount of leaf in the fewest number of 
minutes possible; we fear that the climate of Ceylon presents a great bar to keeping reserve samples of 
manufacture for any length of time in good condition, but we commend to producers the great desirability of 
making experiments with a view to discover the way to make their Teas keep better. 
Our list of gardens, with estimated yield and average price per lb. realised, numbers this year 270, whose 
out-put in Mincing lane has amounted to not less than 5,000 lbs. ; we may observe that in cases where the 
produce has sometimes been sold in Colombo a very correct estimate has not been always attainable, for the 
reason that a large number of these Colombo purchases have been bulked together and shipped under fancy 
marks. On the whole, however, we believe our statement, which has been carefully compiled from a daily 
register of the public sales, will be found to give a very correct idea of the results obtained on the several 
estates and in the several districts. It is noticeable that by diut of continued fine plucking the same three 
estates that headed the list last year occupy the tame prominent position this year with only this difference, 
that Blackstone and Agarsland have reversed their respective relations. It must be left to the experience 
of planters to decide whether such fine plucking as obtains on these estates is in the long run hurtful to the bushes ; 
with the career of t^e famous Loolcondkba estate before our eyes it would be hasty to condemn fine plucking on this 
account; with temporary exceptions at the time of drought early last year this Tea garden has shewn as fine quality as 
ever during the past year, and has averaged fu'ly Id. per lb. more than in 1886; but with regard to the question 
whether it is not after all more remunerative to pluck in a freer manner, we must remind producers tbat Ceylon Tea 
depends for its continued popularity upon a maintained reputation for distinctive character and quality, and upon the 
continuance of that popularity depends the very life of the industry. Adherents of the system of liberal 
plucking will no doubt point to the splendid results again ac'hieved by Maeia watte, viz., an average price of 
Is 2Jd per lb. with a yield of something like 1,100 lbs. an acre, but the fact that this estate is very 
highly cultivated must not be lost sight of; Ceylon Teas, excepting perhaps some of the lowest grown, have 
none of the inherent robustness of Indian and we fear that if, in their eagerness to rival the output of India, 
planters resort to a system of comparatively coarse plucking, the bulk of Ceylon Tea will be reduced to a low 
level of pointless mediocrity, in which case prices would unquestionably fall to a range below that now ruling for 
ordinary liquoring Indian. 
The figures immediately below speak for themselves and are highly encouraging to planters in India and 
Oeylon ; 10 years ago the proportion of Indian Tea drunk in the United Kingdom and Ireland was 18§ 'per 
cent, ol the total consumption; five years later the percentage had risen to 30J, and last year more than half 
of the total consumed was Indian and Ceylon. 
Home consumption of China and East Indian growths in 1877, 1882 and 1887. 
China. Indian and Ceylon. 
1877 123,012,0001b. 28,013,000 lb. or 18f per cent, of the total. 
1882 115,589,000 50,497,000* or 30* „ „ 
1887 ... ... 90,600,000 93,054,000 or 51 „ „ 
Maltiness. — This attribute should, in our opinion, be confined to the robuster but less flavory low grown teas, 
and especially to the lower grades. Where fine flavor is not a marked feature of the tea a brisk malty aroma 
is undoubtedly of great value, but it almost annihilates that delicious delicate flavor characteristic of well- 
manipulated high-grown tea, which constitutes its especial value. 
Beoken Pekoes should not be too small nor contain any large proportion of minute flaky leaf; such teas do 
not blend well. Unless of exceptional strength, Ceylon Broken Pekoes do not compete w ith Indian. The 
best style of manufacture for the highest grade is that of a semi-broken Orange-Pekoe with plenty of tip 
and a well-made leaf. 
Packages. — Souchongs and Pekoes may be packed with equal advantage in chests or half-c bests; 
there is a demand for both sizes. Broken Pekoes as a rule sell best in half -chests ; it is a mistake to pack 
them in boxes. Breaks of good whole-leaf tea (Pekoe Souchong, Pekoe, or Unassorted) [in 20^ lb. boxes 
are very desirable and as a rule realise about 2d per lb. above the market value of the tea. Such packages 
have a ready retail sale and are the means of making the public acquainted with the peculiar merits of 
(Jeylou tea in a much more satisfactory way than through the medium of the packet trade. 
Small Breaks.— Lots numbering less than 18 half-chests 12 chests or 30 boxes are reckoned " small breaks," 
and are reserved to the end of the auction , when they are disposed of to the very limited competition of the small buyers . 
