, 1874-02-15

Professional tea-tastng calls into action all
| the senses, some Of which are thus developed
! to . degree Of perfection seldom STAINED In
any other art. An interesting sight to the unin-
| itiated would be- the sanctum Of professional
! chadzee, or
rEA-rAsrEn.
Tho long rows OF apparently innune-abls
little sample-bo1es and bottles the large, re-
volving, round table, and many tiny, pure-
white tea-cups the delicate little scales, With
g1ain-weights, that vibrate with the gentlest
breath; silver spoon, the magic wand Of tha
profession the glass tumblor the bright cop
per tea-kettle, putting forth the steam OF boiling
WATERFALL remind you Of tear1naking. Be seat-
ed, and watch the movements OF tho chadzee.
Dozens Of tea-samples are placed around tha
inner edge Of the table Uhcse selected
from among hundreds; as many tea-cups ara
p1aced before them; just twenty grains in weight
OF each sample Carefully averaged as regards
the size Of the loaf OF the tea) is plnced in cac,
little cup; just ons gill of water, while boiling,
is poured in each, and the faster counts the
minutes; now he sits down and scans the liquid
tea AB the vapor rises from all the samp les. In
meditation deep, he is lost to the outer world.
He then agitatas each little pool, ss il to call up
some tiny uymph. His penetrating eyes scan
the various shades, from Light to dark He now
inhales their etherial odors. The twitching Of
certain muscles elbows the effect Of appreciation
OF dislike. Thus he continues unto the end,
DEEP IN CONTEMPLATION.
Thunder, lightning. artillery, cannot arouse
him; be is lost to nl other thoughts; it is tea,
and ten alone that abeorbs his whole attention
The rounds aro gone once more From tho
little spoon he sips the steau1ing liquor. He does
not drink it quickly, but aa though La feared it
would burn or TINT he would loso its delicious
flavor He twirls it around in his mouth, -
we're; extracts its quality then expels it. Eack
infusion shares the same criticism and with
intense thought he su1ns up au the charhcter1s-
tics. Tho result fxes the value; each sample
shows its worth from the figure ho h.s made
Thus all the teas OF commerce sre valued by
these experts. ....
OBSERVE THE LIST OF PRICES:
Only Il cent difference in price bctween 8one,
and as much as 81 between others. Who would
have thought there was 80 great difference IN
the value OF tea is from % cents to $1.5o pee
pound; in many instaucea varying bus 1ttla Ia
value from ono to the next up to tue highest:
{These are wholesale pzicea) As an article ct
~ high as 73 per pound (wholesalej: Il China
it is said to sell as high ESQ for the finest OF
spring ng-pickingY or Mandarin tea,-a pe1fectiy~
white Pekoe leaf, which is seldom or:ever e1-
ported from tQ4t CQuut1Y.-HACtpt ~ AsAnSans
The writer has seen similar description OF this
tea, which had been grown In India IL the
Upper Assam Tea Company's plantation, and
which vas aold at the Commercial ealoRooras.
in London England, for
$3.50 PEI POUND, GOLD.
This tea was exported from London to st.
Petersburg, f:ussiaus, after the higher
classes Of Chinese, being the consumers OF tho
finest grades Of tea grown, and which IL SAINT to
them overland by caravans.
The question arlses Wherein l8 the difference
in va1ue2 So far as the great 1uass OF tbs peo~
Pile are concerned, we answer, Wherof As with
the dainty and most costly breakfast OF the
Egyptian Queen. consisting Of . simple oliye
with its envelopes, or . bottle Of wine bougn.
IN Enicderbocker times as 60 cents, and laid awa7
n Bome rusty old cellar till now, whea scme
nodern Mark Antony, With more monay than
3rains, will give $40 for the coveted liquor: go
nth tea. One that is sound and pure, costing
1oW
ABOUT 60 CENTS At wHoLyaAIE,
should be good enough for general use, taking
from it all uystifcation sud faacied worth. Bus
he fault Of our ten ia more in the improper
ection OF It by the iguorant, and th6 selhsbce5s
md mea1ness Of tho unpsincipted adu..erators
II it, than in any deficiency Of quality or amount
II tea imported to this country Tor the low price
sbo7e stated. AJAX the professional eea~tasse1
there ere but few in this country.--say dozeu
men, all told. among the Thousands who deal il
ea) ask him 1t those fancy pricea do not savu
nora of fancy than Of real value.
Gosaos zH1 Youxsxa.