Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-20

rare color from being cured or rather killed
on dirty copper pans, from being mixed
With weeds and shrubs, from being stained
with indigo aud chrome yellow, from being
colored with verdigris, grass juice or chlo-
rophyL Every green dye known to COM
merce has been used to produce the much
admired but death-dealing color, excepting
it may be paris green.
I'll venture the statement that there IL
no fine tea in the United States. What
goes to our country is the cheap stuff used
here by the coolies and Jail inmates. When
an American housekeeper pays 81 per
she is buying what is sold here for 25 cents.
No really good tea is sold here for less
than 81 per pound by the wholesale. If
laid down in the market at home it could
not be sold for less than 81 IS. This 81 90
tea is the usual article for clerks, poor
tradesmen and mechanics. For the we'll
to.do, the official class and nobility, are
finer pickings that run from 81 to $50 per
pound. The only Europeans who purchase
these high priced leaves are the Russians
and few connoisseurs in France, Ger
many, Austria, Spain and Turkey. The
bold Briton permits patriotism and his
vicious vitriolic horrors of Ceylon and
India. Good Uncle Sam patronizes a
Cheap John who gives away to each pur-
chaser 50 cup and saucer with every 25
cent pound of tea
Where the Plant Thrives Best
The tea plant is as sensitive and delicate
a. belle. There are farms in Formosa,
Fo-Kien and other tea districts where the
best conditions exist unchangingly, whose
tea crop is as famous and distinctly known
in the Eastern world as the various
chateaux of France are to the wine experts
of Europe. Just as the millionaires of
Europe control certain vineyards, so do the
millionaires of the Flowery Kingdom con-
troll tea plantations whose annual output is
worth Kings ransom.
Another point of the many we have to
learn from the Chinese, is the proper mode
Of packing the Leaf That which goes to
America is dumped as soon as it is "fred,"
burning hot into lead-lined box, the lead
is soldered and the air-tight coffin is sent
around the globe in the hot hold of
steamer. The tea sweats and undergoes
manv changes which alter its favor alto
gether and vitiate its quality.
How Poor Tea Is Packed.
The Mongolian packs the poorest kind in
strong paper packages and these in turn in
mortuary lead; the better kind in soft tin
boxes; still better ones in
silver-foil inside of one-pound cases made of
split sun-dried bamboo and the best of
porcelain jars and vases. He packs in eights
and quarters of pound, so that if few
leaves are improperly treated or not cured,
they will not contaminate much surround
ing tea
But ah, the exquisite pleasure to be found
in a cup of truly fine tea The color is
delicate gold; each leaf unfolds into per-
feet olive oval; its fragrance fills the BAN
quoting hall, delicate and yet penetrating.
dainty but distinguishable above all other
perfumes; and the favorl The famous
Glover Club punch pales into dim distance
in comparison to this "cup that cheers"
Words cannot describe the delight in brew
of fresh Formosa tea. 1t fills the system
and makes every nerve thrill with joy. 1t
fingers on the palate for hours. And 'the
next day." think of it, o votaries Of Bac-
chus, the brain is clear. the body all alert
and the soul ready for the battle of life.
EDWARD BEDLoE, q. s. Consul