Improvements in and relating to the Preparation of Tea, Tobacco, and other Products.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Preparation of Tea, Tobacco,
and other Products.
WILLIAM WATSON of 36, Gabriel's Hill Maidstone in the County of Kent
Tobacco Manufacturer and Tea Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what mauner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This my invention relates to improvements in and relating to the preparation of
hop tea applicable also to tobacco and other vegetable products and my invention
consists of the process and in the apparatus therefor as will be hereinafter described
and set forth.
I now
My improvements are designed with the objects of imparting to tea, tobacco, or
other vegetable products the flavour and valuable medicinal properties of hops in a
new and inexpensive manner, and in order that my said invention may be readily
understood I will now proceed to describe the same and the manner in which I
propose to carry the same into effect. In carrying out my invention I take a
quantity of hops which may be dried or freshly gathered and, after cleansing the
same in any convenient manner, (preferably by washing or steaming them and
being again dried) pulverizing or crushing them by any approved means.
prepare an infusion of any desired strength by steeping the hops thus treated in
boiling water, and allowing the same to stand 48 hours the cold liquor being after-
wards drawn off and filtered; a suitable quantity of concentrated extract or
essence of hops being added to the infusion thus prepared to improve the flavour
of the same. The proportions I prefer to employ are 1 lb. of hops to 4 gallons of
water and adding one quarter of a pint of essence to the infusion but the said pro-
portions may be altered to suit the palate or the class or character of the product
with which it is to be combined.
The hop infusion thus obtained is employed to moisten the hops intended to be
combined with the tea and for this purpose I prefer to use 2 quarts of liquor
The tea
added to 3 lbs. of hops this quantity being added to 100 lbs. of the tea.
with the hops added is then placed in a steaming and drying apparatus hereinafter
described which is heated by any convenient means in which the tea is steamed for
any approved time and after the steaming operation is completed the tea is dried
by allowing the contained steam to escape. After being thus dried the tea is
ready to be supplied to the consumer, and the flavour of the hops will be found to
be blended with the tea in a palatable and wholesome manner.
The apparatus herein before referred to is illustrated in the accompanying
drawings in which
Fig. 1. shows a perspective view of the apparatus-a portion being broken
away and
Fig. 2. shows a sectional diagram of the valve for controlling the apparatus.
As illustrated the machine consists of a cylindrical casing A having a central
shaft B mounted therein, the said shaft being adapted to be rotated by any con-
venient means. Upon the said shaft are fixed a number of radial screens C formed
of perforated gauze or wire netting of any suitably sized mesh-the series of
screens being stayed or stiffened by braces or ties to impart the necessary strength
thereto. An aperture D is provided for the insertion of the moistened tea to be
heated in the apparatus and the said aperture is adapted to be closed by a hinged
door d or other suitable means.
The before mentioned cylinder A is supported upon a suitable framing pre-
ferably enclosed as shewn in the drawing and within the lower part of the apparatus
in an atmospheric gas burner, or other source of heat.

page_text: The application of heat to the cylinder results in the evolution of steam from
the moisture retained by the hops and the said steam will thoroughly permeate the
whole of the tea contained in the apparatus thereby causing the flavour of the hops
to be intimately combined with that of the tea.
The tea after being steamed a suitable period, the vapour is allowed to condense
and the mixture becomes gradually dried by the heat.
Fig. 2 shows the preferable form of valve for preventing and controlling the
escape of the steam contained in the apparatus.
. By reference to the drawing it will be seen that the said valve consists of an
outer casing a having a lid a¹ secured thereon in any convenient manner.
Within the said casing is a vertical flue adapted to be closed by the cap c the
said cap being vertically adjustable by means of the screw attached thereto.
The steam arising passes upwardly through the said flue b, but is prevented from
escaping by means of the water or other fluid contained within the said valve, the
moisture arising from the tea being condensed within the said valve.
. The tea having been steamed and dried in the manner hereinbefore described
may be removed from the apparatus through an aperture in the casing such as is
illustrated at F (Fig. 1.) closed by means of a slide and is ready for disposal to
the consumer. Tobacco may be also treated with the infusion of hops prepared in
the manner hereinbefore described the said infusion being employed to moisten the
leaves when in the hands or bundles in the manner usually adopted in the trade
and my said invention may also be applied to other herbal products in either of the
methods before mentioned without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1.
.."
1. The improvements in the preparation of tea, tobacco or other herbal products
hereinbefore described & set forth.
2. An apparatus for the purpose of steaming and drying the vegetable products
before mentioned constructed substantially as in the manner herein before described
and set forth.
Dated this 6th der of Anil 1900
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.