The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-05-26
TIL E N E w e r A
TEA,

The May Number of 50 the Democratic Re-
view has been received and is we'll worth the
careful Perusal of all. Its contents are of the
most sterling order. We give below an extrac,
OF practical Importance upon the subject of Tea
Tho great demand which has of late wears
sprung up Tor green teas on American account.
mas given rise to most extensive frauds on that
article. quantity of damaged black teas will
be taken and dried in baskets over pans Of char
coal. The dried leaves, in quantities of few
lbs each, are then placed in heated cast iron
pans workman stirs the leaves RAPIDLY with
the hand, mixing in a small quantity of iumeric.
winch lmparts an orange tinge to the leaves.
powder prepared from Prussian blue, (Prnssiat e
OF iron, po!son,) and gypsum. is then added to
the leaves, which are stirred over the fire until
they assume the fine bloom color of hyson. with
much the same scent The leaves are then sif.
ted. The first sitting is called hyson skin, and
the last young hyson. This fraud is perpetrated
on most extensive scale, and has doubtless Civ
en- ground for the belief in the injurious nature
OF green tea. Ontne importation of the teas into
this country, further receptions are pracced in
repacklng and re-marking the boxes, by which
means inferior teas are made to appear as fin the
original China packed boxes. The manner of
the trade, as hitherto conducted, has given oppor-
tuniy to these practices. The teas have from
the hands of the Importers passed into those of
mIdclemen, by whom they are sold, with such
changes In the packages and denominations as
the most wiley ingenuity will suggest, to the re-
'aiefs, at enormous charges BY the time they
reach the consumers, poor and cheap teas bear a
heavy charge. Hence the masses Of the people
tor the most part get only a poor beverage at a
nigh price 1t has been doubtless owing to this
TACT mat the consumption of coffee although less
healthy and less agreeable to the taste, has in so
great degree exceeded that of teas in the Uni
led plates. change is now, however being
accomplished In the manner of furnishing tea To
the consumers. Both in London and the United
olales, private tea companies, of which without
being inyidious, the Pekin Tea Company of New
YORK, may be mentioned as the ONLY one whose
resources seem adequate to the undertaking. have
been formed, by which the teas pass from the
hands OF the importer more directly to the consul
mer' without undergoing any mixture or depreci-
alton In character, and with the SAVING of one
pIoilt, that of the middlemen, in its progress.
lhis company stands, in relation TO the consr
mers, nearly in the same position as did former
~ the inspectors of the East India Company.
ihey are not only the means ofpreventing spu-
rious mixture, but also those eXOrbitsnt chargas
which, In the hands of the middemen. went IN
SVEN the cost to the consumers in SO eminent
degree. The progress of this reform may be ex-
pecied TO produce the most beneficial results upon
the trade generally.
dyson Skin of good quality, very frequently re-
sembes Old Hyson, but it is cheaper tea by is or
~ cents per pound. Fraudulent iobbers erase the
printed iaces from the Hyson Skin boxes and re-
lace them Fine Old Hyson' and in this way sell
Tyson Skin for more than it IS worth The same
fraud IS practiced in Black teas. Souchong is fire.
quently refaced Fine oolong,' which enables dis
honest dealers to sell such tea for from 70 to 90 cents
more than its value.
when chop of tea bearing certain marks be-
comes general favorite from its good qualities
these marks are as closely Initiated and ann;ed ~
other and inferior chops, as 10 deceive country
merchants. Other frauds might be added, bat these