The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-26
EXAMINING TEA.
WHAT A CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICIAL
SAYS A6OUT THE WORK.

The Usual Method Pursued In Making
| the Commercial Observation-Disclosures
of Tea In the Producing Countries.
Tea Testing Not Injurious.
"In examining tea" said Mr. \. Judson
Person, the examiner Of tea for the port 81
( New York, I'VE seldom resort 10 the chemi-
cal analysis. The usual method is what IL
known as the commercial test which COM
sists OF pouring IA given quantity of boiling
water upon given quantity Of the leaves Of
the tea; the character and quality OF the tea
is then determined by the odor and flavor Of
the infusion, appearance of the leaves etc
I Questions Of the presence Of spurious sub
stance, exhausted leaves, etc, are determined
by chemical analysis valuable aid 10 the
examiner"
rs tea tasting or testing injuriousi"
Not necessarily so The expert, il pos
seSSed Of a critical taste and healthy ollac-
tories, will determine qualities without pro-
/ longed tasting or smelling; an excessive in
diligence in this respect doubtless would and
sometimes does affect the nervous system, it
may be seriously"
Does not constant tasting Of tea cause
general dislike for the BEVERAGE
ut naturally creates O disgust for poor
stuff called tea, tut not entitled 10 the name,
Of which ve get, under the present tea law
entirely too much; and at the same time it
cultivates taste for the better qualities, of
which the average tea consumer knows too
little"
docs it not result in a iondnes, for strong
tea"
Very likely, as both quality and strength
are essential elements composing good cup
Of tea. Many good housewife fails in Sc
rurug a good cup Of ten by not putting
enough in the pot"
ADULrERATiOS OF TEA.
How do they adulterate tea in the pro-
iUcing countries"
We have no accurate knowledge upon
which 20 base an intelligent reply The al
| sged methods are various, but sufficiently
well authenticated TO repeat
"Do they not pack a mixture 81 g0od and
bad teas ia the same chest"
Wide variations in the quality OF leaves
found in the same chest or chop are often
observed This may be the result either OF
accident or design. II may and doubtless
does occur by plucking the earlier leaves
with those that are masurei, neclccting to
assert properly the different qualitie5-per-
haps intending to increase the bulk ~ the
expense Of the quality
How much tea is conlsc0tcdf
During my service only one instance Of
coniscation has occurred which consisted Of
j few packages damaged by salt water and
unfit for use"
"Why do you not draw samples yourself"
In exceptional cases | do. This duty,
however, is assigned to the sampler speclh-
oaIly selected for the pupose.
How much tea Is rejected each year.
During my term OF seryice--about three
years-the total reflections are about 5000
packages, or say about 10000 pounds
About half of these were subsequently al
mitted upon re-examination by arbitration
committees, as provided by the act ''
DO You swallow the tea in the process u
sxaminationp
VERY rarely, and then in very small guam
titles
How do you know that importers do not
4dulterate after their consignment las been
-eleased by you or the customs officials
Officially we have no knowledge. tre
5imably, however, the importer ,slls his i'm
portations in the original package, and
authorizations or admixtmes which DO or may
occur would he traceable. If at all, to the re
taller. or one who breaks up the original
package"
What do you DO with the samples
After the examination of the samples Is
completed they are held subject to the order
Of the importers, and if not called for within
a reasonable period are turned over 10 the
custody Of the collector, and are sold at pub
lie auction for the benefit Of the government
The average weight Of each sample does not
exceed three ounces, a portion Of which Is
consumed in the examination New York
Mail and Express.