Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-14
DRINKING OF TEA
SOME INTERESTING FIGURES AND
FACTS FROM AN EXPERT.
Growth Of the Plants in India and
Ceylon-English Races the
Greatest Consumers.

Mr.. P. c. Larkin, president Of the Salada
Tea Company, and Mr.. James McGuane.
New York manager of the firm, are in the
city for q brief visit. on their way north
from a trip through the south Mr.. Larkln
has been identified with the tea business In
this country and Canada for many years.
and Is regarded as an authority on matters
pertaining to that industry. particularly
from a commercial standpoint. In speaking
to a reporter for The Star OF the progress
the teas Of Ceylon and India are making In
America, Mr.. Larkin said:
"Ceylon and India teas have been making
remarkable progress in America within the
past few years. The total imports to this
country of teas Of all kinds last year was
100, 600, 900 pounds, of which amount 27,OOO,-
900 pounds were from Ceylon and India.
These figures show forcibly how rapidly
the old-fashioned China and Japan teas
are being displaced in the United States.
Not only are the black teas Of India super
seding those of the countries named. but
the green teas Of India, as well, are dis
placing the artiflcially colored green teas
of the other countries
1.-THE only reason I can ascribe to this
rapid advancement of Ceylon and India tea
is that they are intrlnsicalIy better, Of finer
flavor and more healthful than those of
Japan and China
1.-THE latter country at one time exported
to England 100 600 900 pounds of tea. Last
13 100000 pounds. which was 100000
pounds less than the amount exported the
year preceding. During the first six
months of the present year Russia pur-
chased from Ceylon over 5000, 900 pounds
Of tea. an unusually large importation con-
sidering all the circumstances.
Tea culture in India. as an industry,
was begun about forty years ago. and the
introduction Of the product into England
dates back some twenty odd years. Cey-
Ion tea was introduced in America only
about eight or ten years ago. 1t seems
well established that tea Is not indigenous
to China. because in none Of the uncut
tivated spots of that country is it found
growing wild. It appears, however, that
1t Is indigenous to India, for 1t has always
been found growing wild in the jungles and
in all other parts of that country.
''The culture OF tea in India evidently
ceased for hundreds Of years previous to
forty years ago. when experimentalists
took up the cultivation Of the product and
found by making small shipments OF tea to
the London markets that 1t brought q high
er price than the best teas Of China. Con-
seQuently its cultivation was entered into
upon small scale. and gradually adj
vanced until now the tea-growing industry
OF that country amounts to over $50 600
pounds per annum.
1.-THE English-speaking races are the chief
consumers Of tea, and the Australians, as
individuals. head the list The annual per
capita rate Of consumption, with regard to
residents OF the various countries, Is as fol-
lows: Australia, seven to eight pounds;
England. six pounds; Canada, five pounds:
United States. one and one-fourth pounds.
The natives OF Russia consume little less
than three-fourths Of pound per capita
each year. Notwithstanding the fabulous
tales We hear concerning the great tea
drinkers of that country.
Natives Of other countries use tea scarce
ly at all. In Russia tea Is consumed only
by the wealthy class. with whom visitors
to that country come in contact. The
poorer classes of Russia do not use the
product.
During the past twelve years the annual
per capita rate Of consumption in England
has increased from four to six pounds, and
in Canada the rate has increased from four
to five pounds. There has been practically
no Increase in the United States. In Eng
land and Canada the increase in consump-
ton has been almost coincident with the
introduction Of Ceylon and India teas
am of the opinion that an increase in tea
drinking similar to that of England and
Canada will also be noted in the United
States"