Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-06-17
MANY FRAUDS IN TEA
HOW AMERICANS ARE GROSSLY
DECEIVED.
fhey Know Little About the Fragrant
Leaf. and the Men who Sell the Tea
Take Advantage of That
Fact to Doctor 1t.

A writer in the New York Adver-
tiser quotes DR.. Edward Bedloe United
States consul at Annoy. as saying re-
Gently: mo one can visit the East
without having his eyes opened to the
many tricks played at home by the
guileless green-grocer upon the I'M
suspecting housewife. The hyson.
dirt cheap at so cents a pound. is
put on board the steamer at q total
cost OF II cents. The English break
last given away at 81 pound is
sold in the open market at % cents.
The magnificent Formosa Oolong. the
king of all the black teas. is sold by
the merchant in Annoy at % and 80
cents and resold in Chicago at three
times those figures. To whom goes
the profit 1t is not kept in China
Competition is close and the margin
OF profit small. Many cargoes in
volve loss to the exporter But no
matter how low prices fall in the
wholesale market the retail, like the
laws of tho Modes aud Persians.
changes not.
The second thought that occurred
to the visitor in China is. Who mixes
and blends the teas in the stores at
home? No matter what the name
may be. each variety at home is gen
orally a mixture of various kinds,
Chinese and Japanese, China and
Ceylon. Formosa and Annoy, Formosa
and Foochow. Formosa and Hankow
AT the port of Annoy from which are
shipped the growths of the mainland
and the neighboring island of For.
mosa each half chest is sent out full
OF tho pure leaf In this condition
every cargo reaches New York. Bos-
ton. Philadelphia Chicago and San
Francisco. But when it reaches the
consumer it is no longer pure. but
mixed. Where and by whom is the
mixture madep Who demands itP
Docs the American public deliberate
ly ask that the pure Formosa herb be
weakened and spoiled by the poorer
growth, and often the rubbish of other
districts and other lands? Or has its
taste become SO perverted as to enjoy
decoction which possesses no aroma
and unpleasant flavor and enough
tannin and gallo acid to quicker
mouth and alimentary canal into air
tight compartments.
1T is difficult TO discover where
the evil lies. We know that there
are establishments in the great Ameri
can cities where damaged and stale
tea are recolored and refined and
where. it is said spent leaves are
converted at slight cost to their
al
by the thoughtful gentlemen who
blend, reduce and improve the fra
grant Formosa shrubP
Frequently one encounters such
advertisements as these: Drink In
dian tea. 1t is twice as strong and
thrice as cheap as Chinese,' 'Buv
Assam Tea-Raised by Britons and
not Coolies? Use Ballyhoo Tea
Four times stronger than Chinese and
therefore four times cheaperr' What
truth is there in these assertionsP A.
matter of chemistry physiology and
gastronomic taste China tea has the
largest amount OF theme and essen
tial oils and of the Chinese varieties
the foremost place Is occupied by the
Formosa. 1t is for the benignant eff
foct upon the nerves OF the former
and the pleasure OF the perfume of
the latter that we drink the cup that
cheers but does not inebriate.
AS matter of fact all teas cor-
tain an astringent principle. We call
1t tannin, for convenience. but in
reality it consists OF fannie acid.
Chinese teas the least Indian the
most. The other lands lie between
these extremes A very little tanuin
does but little If any harm. In fact.
physicians frequently prescribe tea
FOR its astringency An appreciable
quantity OF fannie acid Injuries the
stomach. intestlnes and nerves. Tho
statement therefore that one tea is
four times stronger than another
means four times stronger in tannin.
and therefore sixteen times more per-
nicious to human health. Such adj
vertisements as those quoted arc
really badges of inferiority If true,
tho things they recommend as good
are good to be avoided.
but in view of the facts, so briefly
recitej. would it not seem that lepis.
lhtlon in the matter was very neces-
saryP Would it not be we'll for the
public to have a law passed similar to
those in force in many European ma
tions. requiring manufacturers deal-
ers and tradesmen 10 print and post a
notice upon the goods stating whether
these are pure or mixed, and If tho
latter, mixed with what Ingredients:
4 second law. prohibiting tho mivipr
Of second hand. chemically nre.
pared rubbish with tea of any sort; n
third. whereby the chemists EN-.
ployed in the appraisers department
d the custom-house should regularly |
inaly2e and publish the composition
d all the teas entering the market |
WIN a special reference to theme. es-
'ential oils, tannin and lmpuritiesp |
something of this nature should be |
lone and done Immediately. / merely
make the suggestion in the hope that
Wise and more experienced minds