Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-10-31
TEA DRINKING.
More Fo'mosa and 0o'ons Used in Augusta
Than Any Other Kinds.

Upon inquiring about the tea trade in Au.
gusta, it is stated that moe Formosa and
Oolong are sold in Augusta than any other
kinds, yet the English Breakfast commands
ready sale and is preferred by many. One
grocery firm states that more tea is sold in
proportion than any other goods kept. Very
little, if any, wholesaling is done, but it is
generally purchased in pound and half
pound lots.
Perhaps the following will be of interest
to tea drinkers. as
The tea statistics of the United States
| show an increased importation of almost
10 900, 900 pounds b.tween the years of
1891 and 1894. The importation for last
year alone was 81 ,682 1927 pounds. While
1t is not probable that Am ricans will ever
substitute tea for coffee 10 the morning, the
| afternoon tea is becoming more of recog-
nized institution yearly and less Of fad g.
1t is curious fact in the tea trade that GER
tain cities in the United States distinctly
prefer different kinds of tea. For instance,
Foochow goes mainly to Philadelphia.
The cultivated Bostonisns discuss Brown
ing over cup of Formosa Oolong. Japan
teas are preferred in the western cities
New Workers cling to the thoroughly proper
Congou of English breakfast tea. Accord
ing to importers tea does not lose its flavor
in being brought here, and if made here IS
it is made in China would have precisely
the same bouquet. This is due to the care
full way it is packed. The same rule which
applies to the housekeeper applies to the i'm
porter. Tea should be used as soon as it is
opened. Housekeepers should buy it in
small quantities and always keep it alright
in dry place. Tea year or two old de-
preciates greatly 10 value.
The Chinese put the dry leaf in the cup
and pour the fresh water just at boiling
point over it. The sap which is secreted in
the stemmy structure of the leaf is all that
is good. This exudes in from two to FIVE
minutes. If allowed to stand longer the
chemical quality in the leaf destroys the
flavor and renders the tea iudigestibl, and
injurious. As for the women who has her
teapot standing on the stove all day and
takes cup whenever she feels weary, &C.
cording to tea men, it is a special dispense
ton of providence that che does not drop
dead on the spot.
For the arduous labor of picking, drying
and rolling the tea leaf women receive
from 10 to 20 cents a day. The cul ivation
of tea has been tried in the southern part of
the United States, but owing to the small
wages paid Chinese laborers, we cannot
compete. One of the interesting features
Of China to tourists are the tea houses.
They are little, one-roomed buildings. Chi
nese draperies, screens, lanterns and fans
form the principle decoration. The low
tea tables are covered with Chinese paper
and the exquisite cup, and saucers would
gladden. the heart of curl, collector.
The only teas which have at all the
stimulating effect ascribed to alcohol are
the Congou, Ceylon aud India teas. OF
course they are made of more than the
ordinary strength. Americans do not
drink tea as strong as they do in England.
In China, where it is the national beverage,
they drink it in smaller quantities and Of
tener, and always without milk or sugar.
Putting rum and cordials in tea is
thoroughly European and American idea,
and would impress the Cbinsman, if he
were fnmili ,r with that fl ,vor, of "paint-
ing the lily" The purest teas are Oolopg
and Congou. There is little coloripg
HlftiGT Ill kIeeh Tea, Jul NV SLouSi ~ ~
injurious. For their own use, however,
the Chinese never color their tea. For the
very hes. quality one should not pay more
than 81 pound. More is fancy price.
1t is very interesting to watch tea faster
at work. He is seated before a round re-
volvjng table, on the edge of which are sew
eral dozen cups. At bis feet i, an enoI-
nous funnel shaped cuspidor. Into this e
spits the tea after tasting. For tea faster
to even swallow the tea is an unheard of
thing. In the center of the table is a pair
of scales. A nickel five cent piece is the
only weight used, it's balance being the Fl
gulation quantity of tea used for each cup.
Two cauldrons of boiling water splutter on
a gas stove. Turning the table around, the
faster investigates each cup in turn. He
decides upon their respective values and
quality by the fragrance, the brightness OF
the leaf, its formation (the smaller and
closer the better). the color and taste of the
tea. So accurate do these men become in
their judgments that they can FRI quently
pick out the different brands used in cap
of mixed tea. Nor does time Impair these
peculiar faculties, but rather seems to de-
velop and sharpen them. There has never
been a woman tea faster. The prevailing
opinion is that with tea, like wine "a woman's
palate lacks discriminating appreciation,
| -yn.. Lo- Snp bo DoaitiOn