Evening star., 1924-01-11
WORLD PRODUCTION
OF TEA INCREASING
Grocers Differ of Outlook for Busi-
ness in United States-Coffee
Now More. Popular. !
IMPORTS GAIN :. SLOWLY
Type Of immigration Vital Factor
in Go lac ueva
IMPORTS GAIN SLOWLY
BY j. c. RoYLE.

Special Dispatch TO The Star: - s
NEW YORK, January 11.-Differ-
ence of opinion not only makes horse
races, hut tends to. create competi-
tive business effort in many lines, ac-
cording to grocers throughout the
country. For example, a wide DIFF
ference of opinion exists as to
&hether the American public as a
whole feels like cup of tea"
I. F. Whitmarsh. vice president Of
Francis III. Leggett & Co.. large
wholesale grocers, is quoted as say
ing chat the demand for tea in this
country has slumped rapidly in late
years, as compared with coffee. He
attributes this. it is said, to the fact
that the Nordic races no longer are
the main element in the volume Of
Immigration into the United States,
but have given way to the prospect
I'VE citizens from southern Europe.
II. +. ConaWay, vice president Of
Austin Nichols & Co.. equally large
ana prominent in the grocery field
lon the other hand, said today that,
while he was unable to speak except
for his own company, sales of tea by
mat company had been growing
steadily and are now larger in VOL
uIne than at any previous time.
, Finds Tea Gaining in Favor.
Of course, it is fact" he con-
tinueu, that tea as a beverage does
not and never has attained to the de-
gree of popularity that prevails in
Great Britain-possibly never will.
EeVerthelesS, we are Of the opinion
that the average consumption of tea
IN the United States has not dimin-
lsh. but rather tends to increase. as
1t properly should"
Sir Charles Higham, special repre-
sentative of the tea growers of Brit
ish India, who has just arrived here,
declared that the American people
drank S2,000,000 worth more of In
dian tea in the last ten months than
ever before in similar period. Sir
Charles is expected to conduct an ad-
VertiSing campaign to stimulate the
use of Indian teas IN this country,
In course of which several hundred
thousand dollars will be expended
World production of teas in the
last year showed gain of about
100000 pounds to total of 769.-
100000 pounds. In spite Of this many
importers declare the market today
is in a thoroughly sound position.
London now has about 1o0,000,000
pounds in reserve stocks, but this is
a world reserve and is declared to
represent not more than a three
month world supply. Imports into
this country are declared not to have
been excessive, although 100000
more pounds of congou teas were
brought here than in the previous
year.
Buying in Small Lots.
Warehouse stocks in New York are
fairly large, but this is attributed to
the fact that much of the tea import
ed now comes via Panama canal and
stocks formerly kept on the Pacific
coast now are stored here. AS to So
called invisible" stocks, carried by
wholesalers and retailers throughout
the country, they are declared to have
practically disappeared, owing to the
hand to- mouth buying policy prac-
ticed during the last year.
Few consumers in this country ap-
pear to understand the character OF
the teas they ask for over the counter.
The term "pekoe," for example. refers
to the downy appearance of the under
sides and ends of the leaf buds OF the
Ceylon and India plants. Ceylon tea
IS classified according to the sieve.
The leaves retained by the top
the cheaper grades; the second sieve
retains the pekoe; the third, orange
pekoe, and the fourth and finest
sieve. fiowery orange pekoe.
Most Popular Brands.
The bulk of China tea sold in this
country is known as congou. or Eng
lish. breakfast tea. The green China
teas are called gunpowder, Of which
that having young, small, round
leaves Is -classed as young Hyson and
the larger and more loosely twisted
leaves as Hyson. The Formosa oolong
is a black tea, semi-fermented. The
japanese teas are classified as pan
fired, basked fired and natural leaf.
Tea experts warn consumers of the
danger of keeping teas near other
foods. such as coffee, butter, oils,
cheese, onions or anything from
which odors arise, as teas are ex-
tremely sensitive.
. The return of Russia as a factor in
the worlds tea markets is expected to
have a material effect on consumption
and prices when and if it occurs.