October i, 1890.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
237 
tion of tannin in Indian and Ceylon teas, the main 
object of that paper beinp to proclaim the results 
obtained by analyses of high-grown and low-grown 
teas. We need not here enter upon the details of 
Mr. Hughes’ references to what Mr. Hooper ad- 
vanced. This has been sufSciently done in our 
London Letter ; but the main point raised by 
him we think it to be desirable to offer some 
remarks, and to ask for fuller discussion by those 
interested in the subject. 
Mr. Hughes’ contention, as we understand it, is, 
that the conditions under which analyses of our 
teas have as yet been made have produced results 
which— although highly interesting in a certain sense 
—are practically useless as a guide to the great body 
of consumers of tea. These desired to be guided 
in their purchases, not by the outcome of 
what we may term “ exhaustive analysis.” 
but by that obtained by analysis performed under 
the conditions of general household use. Mr. 
Hughes thinks that the amount of tannin chemi- 
cally found to be contained in teas affords no 
trustworthy data of what the results to household 
infusion may be, This infusion varies with most 
users only from five to ten minutes, though, as the 
rule we should ourselves recommend a limitation to 
but three minutes only provided the teapot be pre- 
viously heated and the wafer boiling. It is contended 
by Mr. Hughes that what is required is that a syste- 
matic analysis of the results to infusion evidencing 
lhe proportion of tonnin yielded bv various teas 
during such brief treatment shou'd be made to 
enable < rdinary purchasers to decide what they would 
wish to buy for their household consumption. The 
time generally allowed by professional tea tasters 
for tbe “brew” to draw before tasting is five 
minutes. Probably this time might be adopted 
for the purpose we have referred to as being a 
safe medium. Ten minutes is certainly too long, 
while some deem three minutes too short. The 
medium of five, therefore, that we have suggested 
would probably meet the generality of tastes. 
Our Planters’ Association has already been ad- 
dressed by Mr. Hughes on this subject. It rests 
with that body to decide whether the course he has 
recommended shall be adopted by it. It certainly, 
for the reasons given, seems to ourselves to be 
one which might be with wisdom followed. To 
make our tea popular to the fullest possible degree 
we cannot take the public too much into our con- 
fidence. That public has now before it the state- 
ment that all that it has heard said about the 
proportions of tannin in the several varieties of 
tea oSered to it is unreliable, in so far that it 
relates to conditions with which it (the public) can 
have nothing to do. To offer to consumers the 
results of analyses which shall afford them a guide, 
must surely seem to be a desirable course. 
There is a second point in Mr, Hushes’ com- 
munication to our London correspondent upon 
which we should desire to ofier a few remarks in 
amplification of what we have in previous articles 
written on the subject. From what that gentle- 
man has now and on former occasions stated, it 
would seem to follow that, however carefu’lv 
analysis under the conditions above referred to may 
be made, its resnH"< must at all time be pubjcct to 
the variabl' qualities of the water used for infus'on. 
Our space will not admit of what wehaae before 
written on this topic being here recapltulaied. 
We have, however, before expressed the opinion 
that the diff, fences between the waters of 
different 1 'c li its must form an important factor 
in foim’ng judgment upon teas. But we were 
scarcely prepared to learn how highly necessary 
ooiiRiili ratii n of (his pi int is deemed to be by experts 
at home. Mr. Hughes informs us— to quote from 
our London Letter— that “some London firms who 
do a large business in Ireland actually import 
Dublin water to London for the purpose of testing 
teas intended for Ireland.” The concluBions to be 
drawn from this added testimony are important 
in considering the case nnon which we have been 
writing. It will naturally be asked whether in- 
fusion in different waters may not altogether 
neutralize the results obtained from the short-time 
analysis of the liquors that are recommended? 
Indeed Mr. Hughes further tells us that in localities 
in England deriving their water supply from the 
ohalk, it is found that high. grown teas meet with 
the most demand. Therefore conclusions based 
upon analysis with a single class of water will 
probably not hold good universally. These are 
matters claiming much attention. It was only 
lately that we criticized the variety of advice 
tendered to our planters by home experts; but it 
would seem from the facts above stated that but 
little else could under all the oiroumstances he 
expected. Of great value to us would therefore 
be some method of research which should place 
our procedure with regard to the growth and pre- 
paration of tee on a sound scientific basis, now 
apparently whrlly wanting to us. 
While the question of tannin is thus engaging 
our attention, the Pharmaceutical Journal of .July 
26th brings ns interesting information in regard to 
the distinctive principle theine. Recent research, 
it will be seen from the extract we place below, 
shows that the proportion of this principle in tea 
is higher than was previously supposed. It is 
appreciablv higher in “dry” than in “original” 
tea, meaning by the latter, no doubt, tea with the 
ordinary amount of moisture in it. The unnamed 
tens, we are unable, of course, to identify, but 
Teylon dust shows well. Very s’ rangely, however, 
the premier tea for theine is a Is 2d Java tea. Cheap 
China and Japan show hsdly. It may surprise 
some readers to see that teas as origina'ly received 
from retail dealers and brokers contained from 
5‘40 to 8 per cent of moisture in the first case 
end from 6-28 to no less than 8'98 in the second. 
As a rule the highest priced teas were richest in 
theine, tbe Java tea being a striking exception. 
AMOUNT OP THEINE IN TEA. 
BY UP. B. H. PAUr. ANB A. J. COWNLPT. 
In the March numbtr of tbe American Journal of 
Fharmaev there w«s a report of some resiilta obtained 
by Mr. John Hamilton Small in the analysis of Japa- 
nese and other kinds of tea, Rccorrline to which it was 
shown that the amount of theine in the Japan tea 
examined was from 1'79 to 2’30 per cent, while that in 
the samples of Chinese and Indian tea varied from 2’38 
to 3-54 per cent. The method of analysis adopted bv 
Mr. Small was that described by us in this Journal* 
and the results published by him are in accord with 
those obtained by ourselves for average tea. However, 
in a reference to Mr. Small’s figures by a writer in a 
recent number of the Apotheker Zeitung it is re- 
marked that the amounts of theine indicated there 
are “remarkably high,’’ but that since the drscripMnn 
of the samples analysed was given in very gineral 
and there was no statement made as to the 
final pnrific'’t’'on of tbe theine obtained, further criti- 
cism was impossible. Obvionsly the sngeestion was 
*hns oonveyod that Mr. Small’s analytical results were 
too high, owing to impurity of tbe theine weighed, 
and Che writer did not appear to have been aware of 
the fae*' that tBn ..moTint of theine in ten is generally 
miiob higher than bad been supposed on tbe bases of 
the older analyses wbVh were rosde bv methods nn- 
suite.’ for the complete extraction of theine in a pure 
state. We bnvo. tbereforo, made a further series of 
analyses of different kinds of tea for the purpose of 
obtaining additional evidence as to the amount of 
PharmactMlical Journal, Nov. 19th, 1SS7. 
