Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-03-19
THE TEA.TASTERS.

Professional tea-tasting calls into
action all the senses, some of which are
thus developed to q degree of perfec-
tion seldom attained in any other art.
An interesting sight to the uninitiated
would be the sanctum of professional
chaazee, or tea-taster.
The long rows of apparently innu
merable little sample-boxs and bottles
the large, revolving, round-table, and
many tiny, pure-white tea-cups the
delicate little scales, with grain weights,
that vibrate with the gent1est breath q
silver spoon, the magic wand of the
profession; the glass tumbler; the
bright copper tea-kettle, putting forth
the steam of boiling water, all remind
yon of tea-making. Be seated, and
watch the movements of the chaazec
Dozens of tea-samples are placed around
the inner edge of the table Chose selec-
ted from among hundreds); as many
tea-cups are placed before them; Just
twenty grains in weight of each sample
Carefully averaged are regards to size
of the leaf of the tea) is placed in each
little cup Just one gill Of water, while
boiling, is poured in each, and the
~Os>AAs" WAC aAAAoAS0 ~" A0 e1e0
down and scans the liquid tea as the
vapor rises from all the samples. In
meditation deep, he is lost to the outer
world. He then agitates each little
pool, as if to call up some tiny nymph.
His penetrating eyes scan the various
shades from light to dark. He now
inhales their ETHEREAL odors. The twitch-
ing OF certain muscles shows the effect
of appreciation or dislike. Thus he
continues unto the end, deep in con-
temptation. Thunder, lightning, artil-
lery, cannot arouse him he is lost to
all other thoughts it is tea, and tea
alone, that absorbs his whole attention.
The rounds are gone once more
From the little spoon he sips the steam
ing liquor. He does not drink it quick.
y, but as though he feared it would
burn, or that he would lose its delicious
flavor. He twirls it around in his
mouth, ~ it were extracts its quality j;
then expels it. Each infusion shares
the same criticism !; and with intense
thought he sums up all the character
istics. The result fixes the value each
sample shows its worth from the figure
he has made. Thus all the teas of
commerce are valued by the experts.
Observe the list of prices: Only half
cent difference in price between some,
and as much as 81 between others.
Who would have thought there was 80
great difference in value? The widest
range ut the present day in the value of
tea is from 20 cents to 81. 50 per pound !;
in many instances varying but little in
value from one to the next up to the
highest. (These are wholesome prices. }
As an article of merchandise In this
country, tea has been sold as high az g
per pound (wholesale.) In China it is
said to sell as high as IS for the finest
OF spring pickings or Mandarin tea-a
perfect white Pekoe leaf, which is sell
dom or ever exported from that coun-
except to Russia. The writer has
seen q similar description of this tea,
which has been grown in India, in the
Upper Assam Tea Company's planta-
ton, and which was sold at the Com
mercial sale-rooms, in London, Eng
LAND, for $3.50 per pound, gold.
This tea was exported from London to
ST. Petersburg,-the Russians, after the
higher classes of Chinese, being the
consumers of the best grades Of tea
grown, and which is sent to them over
land by caravans.
The question arises, Wherein is the
difference in value? So far rs the great
mass Of the people are concerned, va
answer, Where? As with the dainty
and most costly breakfast of the Egypt
ian Queen, consisting of sample olive
with its envelopes, or a bottle of wine
bought in Knickerbocker times at GO
cents, and laid away in some rustic old
cellar till now, when some modern Mark
Anthony, with more money than brains,
will give $40 for the coveted liquor so
with tea. One that is sound and pure
costing now. about GO cents at whole
sale, should be good enough for gener-
al use, taking from it all mystiaation
and fancied worth. But the fault Of
our tea is more in the improper selec-
tion of it by the ignorant, and the sell
and meanness of the unprinci-
pied adulterators of it than in any de-
ficiency of quality or amount Of tea
imported to this country for the low
price above stated. Ask the profession
al tea-taster (there are but few in this
country, say q dozen men, all told,
among the thousands who deal in tea) !;
ask him if those fancy prices do not
SAVIOR more of fancy than of real value.