CO129-027 - Public Offices - 1848

Appendix.

Report on the Tea Trade.

[ 60

The consul thinks that about cwt. of tea is consumed by a population of 70,000 inhabitants in Frankfort; but he adds, "This valuation cannot serve as a general basis for Germany, as in some parts of it no tea is drunk, and in others very little, the people being in the habit of drinking coffee for breakfast, and beer or wine at other meals."

+3

It might be supposed that the temperament of the French nation would have made them extensive consumers of tea. Formerly the taste in this particular was improving and extending; and at one time tea found its best market in France. The decline will be best seen by the following statement:-

EXPORTATION of TEA by the French, from Canton, from 1782 to 1807.

YEARS. QUANTITY. YEARS. Lbs. 1782 1795 1783 4,231,200 1796 1784 4,960,000 1797 1785 466,600 1798 1786 382,260 1799 1787 1,728,900 1800 1788 292,100 1801 1789 294,300 1802 1790 442,100 1803 1791 784,000 1804 1792 1,540,670 1805 1793 1806 1794 1807 TOTAL TOTAL Lbs. Exports, first period 15,122,130

[61]

RUSSIAN IMPORTATION OF TEA.

YEARS. QUANTITY. VALUE. Poods. Roubles. From 1824 1825 154,197 6,260,429 1826 133,514 4,807,049 1827 130,562 5,675,992 161,958 6,719,166 Total Poods 580,231 Lbs. 23,462,636 Of which exported during four years 3,843 7,75,730 Thus leaving Poods 576,388 22,686,906 353,333 Lbs. Lbs. 15,122,130 Ditto last period 353,333 Decrease 14,708,797

At a later period we do not find that peace, and the increasing prosperity of the people, induced them to drink tea extensively, although the duties on importation scarcely differed on a foreign or native ship, viz. about 2d. per pound. In the following years the importation was almost stationary, although a large portion was for re-exportation:-

TEA IMPORTED INTO FRANCE: Kilogrammes *. In 1820 83,366 1821 79,144 1822 83,597 1823 70,057 89,030

On an average 144,097 poods, of the value of 5,671,726 roubles; or in English weight and money, 5,187,496 lbs.; value 248,346l.

The trade of Russia with China through Kiachta will be found under its proper head in the section of foreign commerce.

The average annual consumption of Chinese tea in different countries, as nearly as can be ascertained, is now thus :-

Lbs. Great Britain and Ireland 45,000,000 British North America and West Indies 2,500,000 Australasia, Cape of Good Hope, &c. 2,500,000 British India, &c. 2,000,000 Total in the British Empire Lbs. 52,000,000 United States of North America 7,000,000 Russia 10,000,000 France and Colonies- 500,000 Hanse Towns, &c. 150,000 Holland and its Colonies 1,000,000 Belgium 200,000 Denmark, Sweden, and Norway 250,000 The German States 500,000 Spain and Portugal 100,000 Italian States 50,000 South American States 500,000 Eastern Islands, &c. 250,000 1824 - 1844

[For the present trade of France with China, see Section China, in published Report.]

of Foreign Commerce with

The consul at Bremen states that the consumption of tea is inconsiderable, occupying a small portion of ship room.

At Lubeck "there is no wholesale trade in tea, and but a very irregular one in the retail line."-(Consul's Report.)

The commerce of Russia with China, as I observed previously, is involved in obscurity. Sir Daniel Bayley, the consul-general at St. Petersburgh, in his despatch to government, 18th December 1828, says,

"From the most authentic sources of information I have had access to, it appears that the importation of tea into the Russian Empire has been as follows:"-

* A kilogramme is 15,434 grains avoirdupois.

RUSSIAN

Total consumption in foreign countries Lbs. 20,250,000

Thus the English consume twice the quantity of tea that is consumed by all the other countries in the world, excepting China and Japan.

It may be useful to compare the price of tea in England with its price at different places on the continents of Europe and America. The accompanying Table is prepared chiefly from the consular returns called for by his Majesty's Government at the termination of the East India Company's charter in 1832. It should be remarked, however, that unless the qualities of the teas quoted were known, the price is a fallacious criterion. In some of the consular returns a lower price is quoted for Souchong and other teas than the most worthless rubbish of Bohea or Congou would cost at Canton. (See Table, pp. 62, 63.)

It will be seen, on referring generally to the Canton Price Currents, that the cost price of tea has increased in Canton since the abolition of the East India Company. The annexed comparison for January 1832 and December 1844, is an illustration of the remark. The prices in both these years were higher than ordinary, especially in 1844, and not until February and March 1845 did prices fall sufficiently to allow of a profitable exportation.

Q

431

Appendix.

Report on the Tea Trade.