New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-10
GOOD NEWS FOR TEA
FoRMosAN TEAS COMING TO THIS COUNTRY
OF A HIGHLY SUPERIOR QUALITY.

FORMosAN TEAS COMING TO THIS COUNTRY
OF HIGHLY SUPERIOR QUALITY.
Washington Jan 9 (SpeciaD.-Tea- drinkers in the
United States will derive some satisfaction from the
information contained in report OF Consul Aber-
crombie Of Nagasaki dated November 30. 1897,
transmitting the report OF the United States Con-
sular Agent at Samsui. Formosa. At the date Of
the report the tea season OF 1897 was virtually
ended. and the tea put up for export TO the United
States OF a highly superior quality as COM
pared with that Of previous years. This improve
rent chiefly. II not wholly due TO legislation
initiated bv the Committee Ways and Means and
enacted by the LXIVth Congress. TO prevent the
importation OF impure and unwhoesome teas" into
the United States
For years the foreign firms engaged In the ex-
portation OF Formosan teas had been striving to
persuade or compel the Chinese native firms TO i'm
prove the standard OF the teas by reducing the
percentage of dust and broken leaves but their
efforts had not been rewarded with success. The
action Of Congress- therefore. heartily well
coined by the exporters. The Japanese Govern
ment has also rendered substantial assistance in
providing against the expectation OF impure teas
by adopting and vigorously enforcing regulations
proposed by the foreign exporters 1t had been the
custom for the more interruptions Of the Chinese
tea-traders to import inferior China teas into For
mosa. where they were mixed with genuine For
mosa tea and then exported pure Formosa
Ooong. To cover this. well the practice OF
adulterating Formosa teas, the object OF the
measure. The method Of handling the subject is
shown in the following resume OF the regulations.
which too long be produced in full:
Any tea imported into Formosa from foreign tea
districts and blended with Formosa teas or any
adulterated or spurious Formosa teas which may
be recognized injurious TO the reputation OF
Formosa Oolong shall be condemned and the
person persons dealing in the said spurious tea
will be fined double the cost of the said tea and
one-han Of the amount OF the fine will be given as
a reward the person who discovers and gives in
formation Of the dealing In the said spurious teas.
A committee. consisting OF three foreign mer-
chants and four Chinese merchants. will be ap-
pointed TO deal with all questions concerning the
adulteration of tea. and their decision snail be
final. -
The total yield Of Formosa teas in 1897 amounted
70 about N0O0 hat-chests, or $4,000 pounds.
Formosa OolOng is greatly liked in the American
market being an absolutely pure tea free from
coorng matter. OF the total export OF Formosa
teas Il is estimated that more than nine-tenths
are sent 10 the United States and Canada. and
the remainder is distributed between Great Britain
and the Straits Settlements. The Chinese control
the Straits Settlements trade so that. for all prac
teal purposes il may be said that the foreign tea
houses are exclusively engaged In supplying the
American market. ,, ,,
The estimated value Of the tea shipped during
the present season may be placed at SSiUeD
The handling OF this trade is divided among nve
foreign firms who with one exception. nave tnelr
head Offices in Annoy and branch offces IN tor-
nnosa For several years none but English firms
havs been engaged in this business. but two years
ago an American firm succeeded an Engish hrin
here and it has already been able TO OBTAIN us
share Of the trade.