Part 4

(Infusion of 8 grammes with 600 cc of boiling distilled water for 5 minutes.)

Wholesale Proportion Price Per Per Per of tannin No. Description and without cent. cent. cent. corresponding District. duty Extract. Alkaloid. Tannin. to 2·8 per lb. per cent. Alkaloid.

1 Orange Pekoe, Great 9d. 25·50 2·53 6·98 7·72 Western, Unware Eliya District. 2 Broken Orange 1/3 28·61 2·64 10·10 10·71 Pekoe, Concordia, Unware Eliya District. 3 Broken Pekoe, 1/0 27·90 2·49 7·92 8·90 Pedro Unware Eliya District. 4 Pekoe 7³⁄₄d. 26·92 2·58 8·65 9·39 5 Pekoe 5d. 22·68 2·86 5·82 5·69 6 Pekoe 6³⁄₄d. 24·70 2·48 7·09 8·00 7 Broken Orange 7¹⁄₂d. 25·68 2·63 7·39 7·86 Pekoe 8 Broken Pekoe 9d. 26·50 2·77 7·91 7·99 9 Broken Pekoe 6d. 24·41 2·98 6·46 6·07 10 Broken Pekoe 6³⁄₄d. 25·01 2·67 8·39 8·80 11 Broken Orange 11³⁄₄d. 28·80 2·94 10·66 10·15 Pekoe 12 Orange Pekoe 7³⁄₄d. 25·83 2·55 6·86 7·53

TABLE G.

ANALYSIS OF CHINA TEAS.

(Infusion of 8 grammes with 600 cc of boiling distilled water for 5 minutes.)

Wholesale Proportion Price Per Per Per of tannin No. Description and without cent. cent. cent. corresponding District. duty Extract. Alkaloid. Tannin. to 2·8 per lb. per cent. Alkaloid. 1 Fine Moning, 1/5 18·80 2·59 3·48 3·76 Hankow 2 Oolong, Formosa 1/1 24·00 2·46 8·76 9·97 3 Souchong -- 18·30 2·60 2·44 2·63 4 Moning 1/1 20·43 2·23 2·96 3·71 5 Scented Orange 1/2 23·81 2·68 7·70 8·04 Pekoe Canton 6 Gunpowder, Green 1/4 29·47 2·55 9·54 10·47 Tea 7 Caper, Green Tea 10³⁄₄d. 21·45 1·87 9·08 13·59 8 Oolong 10d. 23·62 2·47 8·80 9·97 9 Hyson, Green Tea 1/4 26·81 2·32 9·62 11·61 10 Pakling 5¹⁄₄d. 18·77 1·81 3·19 4·93 11 Pekoe Souchong, 1/5 19·31 2·36 2·33 2·76 Lapsang 12 Panyang 4¹⁄₂d. 21·00 1·93 4·71 6·83 13 New make 8¹⁄₂d. 21·78 3·40 6·42 5·28

The last column in the above tables or the proportional amount of tannin is arrived at in the following manner. I first calculate the average amount of alkaloid in tea as consumed on a basis of the above figures. Thus the average amount of alkaloid in Indian teas as seen in Table H calculates out to 2·84 per cent. This is multiplied by the proportion of Indian teas on the market, viz. about 60 per cent. in the same way the average Ceylon alkaloid 2·68 is multiplied by 30, and the China average 2·40 multiplied by 6. If we add these products together and divide by 60 + 30 + 6 = 96 this will give us the average percentage of alkaloid in tea as consumed and this amounts to about 2·8 per cent. The last column in Tables E, F and G, gives the proportion of tannin corresponding to 2·8 per cent. alkaloid; that is to say the tannin in each case is multiplied by 2·8 and divided by the amount of alkaloid actually present. This figure which represents the proportional amount of tannin present renders the comparison of the different teas possible so far as the astringent action is concerned.

The following table summarises the results of analyses of the three classes of teas:--

TABLE H.

Proportion of Tannin Class of Number of Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. corresponding Teas. Analyses. Extract. Alkaloid. Tannin. to 2·8 per cent. Alkaloid. Indian Teas 18 26·11 2·84 7·43 7·32 Ceylon Teas 12 26·04 2·68 7·85 8·20 China Teas 13 22·12 2·40 6·08 7·09

Thus the Ceylon teas under the conditions of experiment part with slightly more tannin than the India or China teas. It will be noticed that the proportional tannin figures for the India and China teas are not very different, although some of the individual China teas give out less tannin than any of the India or Ceylon samples. It is possible that the China average is rendered rather high by an undue proportion of green tea which of course shows excess of tannin. The question will naturally be asked whether as a nation we do not drink too much tea, and there is a very simple means of solving the problem. As shown in table A the average consumption per head per annum in the United Kingdom is 6·1 pounds, or 117 grains of tea per diem. The average percentage of alkaloid in tea, as consumed, I calculate to be 2·8 per cent., and of tannin 7·5 per cent. This will mean that each person will take a daily dose of 3·28 grains of alkaloid and 8·8 grains of tannin. According to the last Census 3,716,708 out of 32,527,843, or 10 per cent. of the population of England and Wales, are under five years of age; these might almost be neglected as far as tea-drinking is concerned, so that we must add one-tenth to the average daily dose of the alkaloid and tannin, which will come to 3·6 grains of alkaloid, and 9·7 grains of tannin. The dose of caffeine according to the British Pharmacopœia is from one to five grains and of tannin from two to five grains. And hence on an average each person in the United Kingdom is constantly day by day consuming half as much alkaloid, and nearly as much tannin as would be permissible to be taken occasionally as a drug. Therefore I have no hesitation whatever in saying that we drink far too much tea, and the question has been raised in Ireland whether the excessive drinking of strongly infused tea has not had something to do with the increasing prevalence of insanity in that country. Thus in the Forty-third Annual Report of the Inspectors of Lunatics, Ireland (1894), the Inspectors dwell on the ill effects of decocted or over infused tea on persons who make it a staple article of dietary, thus leading to the production of dyspepsia, which in its turn tends to states of mental depression highly favourable to the production of the various forms of neurotic disturbance.

Thus Dr. William Graham of the Armagh District Asylum refers to the recent changes of dietary having an unquestioned influence on the increasing prevalence of insanity. He refers to the use of Indian tea as a beverage between meals. “The tea,” he says, “is stewed, not infused, as a consequence the use of increased amount of nervine food leads to a peculiar form of dyspepsia, which in its turn leads to a general debility of the nervous system. This change is therefore to be considered as a factor in the increase of insanity.” Dr. G. W. Hatchell, the Resident Medical Superintendent of the Castlebar District Asylum, stated that “amongst the female inmates, I believe many cases of insanity may be attributable to the frequent consumption of decoction of tea, taken generally without food and for lengthened periods.”

Again Dr. Thomas Drapes of the Enniscorthy Asylum, said “there is not much evidence of the excessive use of this beverage (tea) being directly provocative of insanity, but I think there is very little doubt that its too liberal use excites or aggravates a predisposition to neurotic disorders, including insanity, making the nervous system more vulnerable in regard to such maladies, by the increased excitability of the nervous system which tea undoubtedly produces. A neurotic organisation may also be transmitted to their progeny by parents who drink tea to excess.”

Lastly, Dr. E. E. Moore of the Letterkenny Asylum, said “As to the consumption of tea, it seems to be enormous and increasing rapidly all over the country. I am informed that it is taken by young and old alike, and even by babes in the cradle. It is drunk as often as it can be got, at every meal and between meals, often six times a day, and especially by females and usually without milk, and often without food. I may safely say that it is never taken as an infusion, but is generally stewed for hours, the old leaves being left in the teapot and fresh added as required. In some places I am told the way the tea is made is by putting the leaves down in a saucepan of cold water, and then boiling it until the decoction is black enough to be palateable.... I can speak from practical experience of the terrible effects of this system of tea drinking both among the sane and insane. It gives rise to a severe form of chronic dyspepsia, and if persisted in to dyspepsia of an incurable and painful form. The result of all this is that the health of the people all through the county is deteriorating more than most people imagine. In fact the people are starving themselves on tea, and the weaker they become the more they rush to the teapot for the fillip the draught therefrom may give them for the moment. This tea-drinking is becoming a curse, and the people are developing a craving for tea, just as great as that which a drunkard has for alcohol, or a drug-taker for his own particular drug. There is no manner of doubt but that the condition of bodily health affects the mental health of every man, woman and child, and if the starved stomach becomes a prey to chronic dyspepsia the chances are very great that the mind will, before long, be materially affected especially where there is a predisposition to insanity of an hereditary type.” With these important testimonies from responsible officials, it is difficult to resist the conclusion that the abuse of tea drinking has acted as a factor in the increased prevalence of insanity.

As a general conclusion from my investigations I have no doubt that in the first place we drink too much tea; this is shewn by a simple calculation from the average annual amount imported for consumption. Of course children of tender years should obviously be given no strong stimulants (such as tea or coffee) and adults would be acting wisely to very much limit the amount taken. With regard to the best method of preparation it should be infused, (neither stewed or decocted) and certainly for no longer period than five minutes, and a good plan is to pour the tea off at the end of this time into another vessel so as to save further exhaustion from the leaves. In reference to the variety of tea best to use, although it is not certain that the average of China teas contains less tannin than Indian teas, there is no doubt that individual samples of China tea can be procured comparatively free from this deleterious substance.

With a view of discovering the constituent parts of the tea popularly consumed, I procured samples from each of the four leading Companies, which probably amongst them, supply nine-tenths of the tea drunk in London Restaurants. The infusion was made in exactly the same way as described above and the analyses came out as follows:--

TABLE I.

RESTAURANT TEAS.

(Infusion of 8 grammes with 600 cc. of boiling distilled water for 5 min.)

Proportion of Tannin No. Description Retail Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. corresponding and District. Price Extract. Alkaloid. Tannin. to 2·8 per lb. per cent. Alkaloid. 1 “China” Tea 2/2 20·20 2·51 4·85 5·41 2 Ordinary Black 2/2 25·60 2·04 9·03 12·39 Tea 3 “China” Tea 2/0 20·06 2·15 3·02 3·93 4 Ordinary Black 2/0 27·90 2·69 9·74 10·13 Tea 5 “Russian” Tea 2/6 23·50 2·30 5·36 6·52 6 Ordinary Black 2/8 24·60 3·02 6·03 5·59 Tea 7 “China” Tea 2/4 24·50 2·22 5·85 7·37 8 Ordinary Black 2/2 28·31 2·72 8·44 8·69 Tea

It will be observed that the China teas exhibited a fairly low proportion of tannin. The numbers for ordinary black tea in two of the Companies’ samples were, however, considerable. This points to the advisability of teas being analysed before being placed upon the market, and this is a reform much needed in the interest of the public. The tea should be examined for the amount of the alkaloid, and also the tannin extracted by infusion, and the price based on the proportion of the essential ingredient, viz: the alkaloid and if it is desired to place the matter on any sort of scientific basis, the public should in each case be informed of the weight of tea required to be used with boiling water (this being regulated by the quantity of the alkaloid), and at the same time an indication should be given of the proportion of tannin liable to be extracted in a standard infusion. My general recommendations from the foregoing experiments, and also from the experience of the various authorities are that if tea is to be no longer a source of injury to health we should drink much less, and infuse for a briefer period. The dealers also should more frequently submit samples for analysis as in the case of other foods and drinks; thus when we do drink tea we should be in a position to avoid those varieties which are especially harmful; and there is no doubt that if these recommendations are carried out we shall be saved from a number of distressing complaints which, although very rarely fatal, have in the past occasioned much ill health, and have been a source of discomfort and misery both of mind and body to thousands who might otherwise have enjoyed the comfort to be derived from a carefully regulated use of the infusion of the leaves of the tea plant.

FOOTNOTES:

A journey to the Tea Countries of China, p. 281, London 1852.

Ancient Accounts of India and China, by Eusebius Renaudot, London 1733.

Delle cause della grandezza delle citta. Giovanni Botero Milan 1596, p. 61.

MERCURIUS POLITICUS, comprising the sum of Foreign intelligence with the affairs now on foot in the three nations of England, Scotland and Ireland. For information of the people. From Thursday, September 23rd to Thursday, September 30th, 1658. Number 435.

MERCURIUS POLITICUS REDIVIVUS. A collection of most materiáll occurances and transactions in publick affaires, A.D. 1659 to 1672. Add. M.S.S. 10116, p. 14.