The Washington times., 1894-04-01
On the AdulterdtiOn
Of Food and Spices.

The adulteration OF food has become so
general Of late one needs considerable con-
fidence in the ability Of his constitution to
digest anything, to either eat or drink with
any degree OF satisfaction. The things most
ments, teas, coffees, sugar. sirups. especially
maple sirup, flour, lard, butter, and SO on,
almost to the end OF the list Of foods that con-
sist Of one or more preparations.
Ground spices and all the pickles and
sauces which come under the head of ''condi-
ments," since they only stimulate the appe-
tite or please the taste without nourishment,
are the commonest things subjected to tho
addition OF foreign substances to add to their
cheapness to the purchaser, as well as gain
to the manufacturer.
Since all housewives do not understand
chemistry, and thus are not acquainted with
the methods of separating foreign from the
real substances of these things. some other
method has to be resorted to protect them.
As for Spices chemists find such substances in
them as buckwheat hulls, sawdust. bark, rice,
bran. Glove stems, fiours of starches and
potatoes. sago, mustard husk. linseed, capsi-
cum, and any other such material as
will combine readily with the thing to be
doctored.
The only method by means of which the or
dinary houseKeeper can De reasonably certain
she is using spicesisto buy them whole and
grind them herself. An ordinary coffee mill,
costing 25 cents, makes good spice mill, and
if after using it for spices two or three runs
of cornmeal is ground through it the spice
will be all freed from the hopper and the same
mill can be used for grinding coffee.
There has been an impression abroad that
cheap teas were greatly subjected to adultera-
ton, but Investigations made at the port of
entry in New York by Prof. II. W.Wi!ey. chief
chemist of the division of chemistry con-
neeted with the Agricultural Department,
proves this to be not near so general as has
been supposed.
The laws OF the United States and Of New
York are very strict on this point, and the
cargoes OF teas are opened and tested at the
United States custom house, and this an
ahytical work shows there are very few spu-
rious teas on the market.
Both in China and Japan there is very
choice variety of tea of unusually fine
flavor, which is kept exclusively for the
use OF those connected with the government.
The ministers from China and Japan to this
country regularly receive their boxes OF court
tea, which is said to be green tea and much
liked by those who are on visiting terms at
those legation houses.
The cheaper teas. Prof. Wiley thinks are
often teas that have been once used in Eng
land or elsewhere. The leaves have been
carefully dried and again become a subject
of commerce. That does not add much to
their flavor, does it?
Ground coffee is one OF the easiest things
to add to or to take away from, especially that
sold in small packages and prepared in fac
tories. Even IN the larger establishments
where coffee is ground for the purchaser, it is
claimed by some that it comes out of the mill
mixed with something else. There is only
one way to prevent this. and even that is not
always sure; that is, to buy coffees in the
berry, either brown or green, and grind it as
it is wanted.
genuine coffee, whole grains. will float
in cold water. while made coffee grains will
sink. Thus. it will be seen. experts are even
making imitation coffee grains
Cocoa is much more healthful preparation
for table drink than either tea or coffee. 1t
is as palatable as either tea or coffee. There
is a "fab' in cocoa or in the cocoa bean
which is of the highest value as food. In
preparing cocoa, like chocolate, it is done
with one part milk to two parts water, and
that adds to its value as food.
Ours is a nation of coffee drinkers. The
English drink tea for breakfast, dinner and
tea. while we, like the Germans. think no
meal quite complete without the aroma of the
steaming coffee-pot. 1t would be much
better for the children not to drink either tea
or coffee. but to substitute warm milk, '.cam-
brio tea"-hot water milk, and sugar-or
cocoa.
Every mother should try to find out for
herself what to feed the children with to make
them grow up healthy and strong Tea and
coffee are too much of stimuant for child
and either in large quantities is apt to make