The Newest Mystery in the Way of Tea.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8418, 10 December 1894, Page 4

The Newest Mystery in the Way of Tea.

It came out in a recent law oase that a Soho trader had beemupplied with tea at 2Jd a pound. Many were the suggestions as to where the .stuff oatno from, which Deputy Judge Robins, on hearing the evidence, deolared~to bs "unmerchantable." Perhaps f .ha report of the British Vice* Consul at Macao will throw some light on the problem. The Chinese in that settlement have during the past two or thrse years invented a new artiole, which has been appropriately named " lie , tea. It it mode up of a mixture of. exhausted Wleave, retired, with a proportion of the genuine artiole, seeds and dust. ■ Labelled " Best Congou," it finds its way to India and Hamburg ohiefly, bui— disquieting thought! —its final destination is unknown. In trading tricks they are dark the Chinese, when they give their mindjto them, were nover known to be beaten. Bat this nefarious traffic will tend to hasten tho extinction of a trade whioh has already been out. rivalled ia Europe by the products of India and Ceylon.