GOOD CUP OF TEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20768, 10 January 1931, Page 3 (Supplement)

GOOD CUP OF TEA.

TASTING AT £IOOO A YEAR.

LONDON WOMAN'S OCCUPATION

Think of earning a living by tasting innumerable cups of tea! And think, too, of being paid £IOOO a year for doing it! This is the job held by Miss Margaret Irving, of London. Ten years ago she was an ordinary clerk. Now she is head buyer and taster for an important firm of tea merchants, and she is probably the envy of practically every woman in England. Miss Irving's task is not. so simple as it sounds. She talked about it at length to a Sunday Express correspondent, who found her tasting sample after sample of tea in her Mincing Lane offices, while men stood by awaiting her opinions. " From the examination of the leaf," Miss Irving freshness of tea, and, as a rule, say exactly where it was grown. But this is not sufficient. It has to be lasted as well." Miss Irving turned to a long counter ori which were arranged many liny teapots and cups. "Of each sample of tea," she said, " a quantity equal to the weight of a sixpence is measured out and dropped into one of these pots. 'J hen boiling water is added.

" The tea is left to brew for exactly six minutes. When the six minutes are up this little clock strikes. It was made especially for tho purpose. "Then comes the tasting. Ido not swallow the tea. I just taste it and 1 examine the scalded tea leaves. A bright copper colour is a sign of a good tea."