The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-08-06
ON TEA AND ITS HISTORY
A LUXURY OF THE ARISTOCRACY
TILL 1890.
Chinese Goods Which Took Twelve or
Fourteen Months to Reach Boston
Now Brought in Thirty Days.

Discussing tea ana It's history, a VIII
ter in The New York Times says:
Tea did not become a popular bev-
erage for a long period, as the masses
were precluded from drinking it by rea-
son of its eXorbitant price. The Dutch
East India Company monopolized the
traffic and supplied the limited demand
for many years. Later, when England
and other nations effected treaties with
China, tea became an extensive article
of commerce in Europe. 1t figured con-
spicuouSly as a bone of contention be-
tween the mother country and her col
onies in 1913 in Boston and other ports
1t was a luxury enjoyed by the aris-
tocracy in the colonies up to 1890, in
which years lightweight pounds were
imported direct from China in an Am
erican vessel. In the next decade the
entire importation was 1343 pounds. In
lSOl-O2 came 9i51 pounds; in 1S15-16
came 2O,S2O pounds. A portion of this
was exported to England. The con-
sumption in 1920 was less than one half
pound per capita. From this date up
to 1850 the importations We're about
equal to the consumption, which had in
creased to 1.22 pounds per capita.
AT this period the treaty ports,
namely Foo Choo, Shanghai Annoy,
Hongkong and Canton, We're declared
open. The influx of Chinas productions
increased slowly, as the transportation
was made in old hulks, which required
from twelve to fourteen months for
each voyage. Later, the clipper ships
replaced these, and the time was less
ened to five months. The Suez canal
reduced the time to sixty days, and now
the Pacific Mail steamers and railroads
deliver goods from China and Japan in
New York within thirty days.
Previous to 1856 China produced nine
tenths of all the tea grown. The varie-
ties comprised green, English breakfast
or Congow, Oolong, Powchong and Bo-
hea. The advent of Japanese tea in 1856
l6 opened new feature in the United
states markets. Its first appearance was
not inviting, as it was unculored, and
was packed in uncouth wooden boxes,
The science of preparation
was then unknown to the Japanese
There was apparently no limit to the
of this tea, and it's cup quail
ty was delicious. When a treaty was
concluded with Japan in 1859 Americans
gained access to the tea markets of that
country, and without delay proceeded
to manipulate the leaf so as to make it
more acceptable in our markets. The
distinctive feature of the tea in infu-
sion populariZed it, and the demand
soon exceeded that of all other kinds. |
Fhls remained the case for a number
Of years.
In 1869 Formosa tea was introduced
iirect from the virgin soil. Its advent
produced no little excitement, as the tea
was superior in every respect to any
hen imported. When it was exposed in
julk IT filled the room with a delightful
1dor and from the infusion came a
1avor resembling the extract of flowers
"a perfect bouquet-the higher grades
'Xcelling in this respect This charac-
er OF tea is in greater demand and con-
sumption in excess of all other kinds.
Tea is picked each year from May to
'eptemper. The first picking is in May, |
he second in June and July, and the /
hlrd in August and September. The |
tier comprises inferior grades and
'efuse.