Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 617

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Results of Examination.

The results of the chemical examination of this tea are given in the following table and are compared with the results yielded by eight samples of Black China tea previously examined in the Scientific and Technical Dept. by the modification of Lowenthal's method. The amount of soluble extract was determined by infusing the tea in 100 times its weight of boiling water, allowing it to stand for 10 minutes and afterwards evaporating the liquid to dryness and weighing the residue.

8 samples of Black China Tea.

TEA FROM HONGKONG.

Moisture, per cent.,

* Ash, per cent.,

Caffeine, per cent.,

Tannin, per cent.,..

Soluble extract, per cent.,

Average results.

Maximun results.

Minimum

results.

8.4

8.2

9.2

7.1

5.6

6.8

8.2

6.0

2.6

3.0

3.7

2.57

11.0

5.1

93

3.3

30.2

24.3

27.2

19.0

Those figures show that the percentages of moisture, mineral constituents (ash), and caffeine in the Hongkong tea are about normal. The amounts of soluble extract and tannin, however, are both above the average and this is probably due to the fact that the leaves had not undergone fermentation.

Cominercial Valuation.

The Commercial experts reported that the tea apparently had not been subjected to the ordinary processes of manufacture and was therefore unsuitable for the English market. The leaves appeared to have been merely dried without having been submitted to any fermentation. As no rolling had been done the tea had a very rough appearance, the leaves being open and irregular. The infusion was found to posses fair pungency but was of somewhat coarse flavour and very pale colour. It was stated that as the tea is unsuited to the market it was difficult to place any value on it but the opinion was expressed that it might perhaps realise 1d. or 24. per pound, although if properly manufactured it would, of course, be of considerably greater value.

Conclusions and Recommendations.

It is evident from the results of this enquiry that the tea is of satisfactory growth but it is of little value in the English market owing to its not having been subjected to the usual manufacturing processes. There seems however no reason to doubt that if the tea were properly prepared it would be of commercial value and it seems advisable that the services of some skilled Chinese from the tea districts should be secured for this purpose.

(sd.) WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN.

15th March, 1906.

As a result of this report it was determined to endeavour to introduce the cultivation of Ceylon and Indian Tea into the Territories and in due course to obtain experts from one of the recognized tea growing districts to teach the proper methods of manufacture.

In pursuance of this plan 50 lbs. of tea seed were obtained from Ceylon and 50 lbs. from Assam and were distributed to a few selected farmers who were granted land under favourable conditions for the purpose of forming small plantations.

* Calculated on dry tea.