Fiji Tea.
Mr. J. E. Mason, of the Alpha Tea and Coffee Estate, Taviuni, Fiji, has forwarded to Mr. J. O. Moody, the expert, of Melbourne, samples of the first Fijian Tea produced in his part of the world; at the same time writing that early next year he hoped to pluck off 30 acres planted with Tea, and that the samples sent were hastily made in a barrel with a frying-pan of charcoal. Mr. J. O. Moody reports:—“Fiji Pekoe leaf: Handsome, small, even, golden tipped, evenly and well fermented. Fiji Pekoe liquor: Very strong, full, rich, and pungent pekoe flavour, thick, with deep red infusion. An invaluable Tea for mixing, and worth about 2s. 6d. per lb. in bond. Fiji Pekoe Souchong leaf: Well made, wiry, twisted, rich, black tippy leaf, evenly and well fermented Fiji Pekoe Souchong flavour, with good, bright, red infusion. A fine Tea to drink alone, and worth about 1s. 9d. per lb. in bond. These Teas have the character of good Ceylon growths, and are in every respect suitable Teas for general consumption, and such samples are sure to meet with ready sale in Australasia or Great Britain.”
Here again, I am told, the labour question is the doubtful point. Tea cannot be made to pay without cheap labour, and the sooner all these new Tea countries learn the lesson the better for the pockets of the projectors. I may add, the better for the Indian planter’s pocket too, for any increase in the supply is hurtful.
In closing this chapter, I would give one word of advice to intending Tea planters in India, or indeed anywhere. There is too much Tea already, why plant more? If you must “go into Tea” you may do so and probably make money, but it will not be by planting it. If you look about you can buy a plantation ready made for far less than you could make such, and in doing so there is no reason why it should not pay, and pay well. If you make a garden you will have five or six years to wait for any return; you attempt what requires knowledge and experience to succeed in, and begging your success, who can say what the market will be then?
I have far from exhausted the subject of these new Tea fields, but my space is limited, and several other points demand attention.
[CHAPTER XXXIII.]
STATISTICS REGARDING INDIAN TEA.
As early as 1780 a few Chinese plants were to be seen in Calcutta cultivated by a Colonel Kyd.
The possibility of cultivating Tea in India was first mooted in 1835-36, and the Indian Government started an experimental garden at Lukimpore (Assam) at that time.
Indigenous Tea was first discovered in Assam by a Mr. Bruce in 1830.
In 1845 and following years the Government imported large quantities of China seed and established nurseries on the Himalayas.
Tea planting was commenced in India by the Assam Company about 1840, and the cultivation was undertaken in other districts in the following years:—Kumaon and Gurwhal, 1850; Cachar, 1855; Dehra-Dhoon, 1855; Sylhet, 1857; Kangra, 1858; Darjeeling, 1860; Terai, 1860; Chittagong, 1860; Neilgherries, 1862; Chota Nagpore, 1872; Dooars, 1875.
Thus it may be said Tea planting in India dates from 1840 by one Company, but 1850 by individuals.
The following figures show the imports of Indian Teas into Great Britain since 1870 in millions of pounds:—
| Year | Millions of Pounds |
|---|---|
| 70 | 13 |
| 71 | 15¼ |
| 72 | 17 |
| 73 | 18¼ |
| 74 | 17¼ |
| 75 | 25½ |
| 76 | 29¼ |
| 77 | 31¾ |
| 78 | 36 |
| 79 | 38½ |
| 80 | 44 |
| 81 | 45¾ |
| 82 | 54¾ |
I may here remark that while the imports of Indian Teas have, since 1877, increased by 23 million pounds, the imports of China Teas have increased by 4 million pounds only in the same time.
The deliveries and stocks were as follows for 1881 and 1882 in millions of pounds:—
| 1881. | 1882. | |
|---|---|---|
| Deliveries | 48¾ | 50½ |
| Stocks on 31st December | 18½ | 21¾ |
During the last 3 months of 1882 the deliveries averaged 5 million pounds per month. In January, 1883, they were 5½ millions, and in February (I write in March) 5 millions.
Deliveries at this rate mean 60 millions a year.
| I estimate Indian produce for 1883 at about | 62 millions. |
| Deduct the probable quantity to be sent to countries outside the United Kingdom, and local consumption in India | 5½ „ |
| Leaving available for the home market | 56½ millions. |
Thus, if deliveries continue at the present rate, demand must soon equal, if not exceed, supply, and the consequence naturally must be enhanced prices, which, however, will surely to some extent check the deliveries.
There is, however, a hopeful feature regarding Indian Teas. The taste for them is increasing greatly. A very small per centage of the public drink them pure (a large per centage in Ireland), but the public generally are now accustomed to the strength attained only by mixing, say one third of Indian to two thirds China, and will nothing weaker. Thus retail dealers must continue to use them, and thus though, as remarked, increased prices will check deliveries, they will not do so with Indian Teas to the same extent they would with China.
Another hopeful feature is (for details see further on) a growing demand for Indian Tea is now established in Australia, and has quite lately commenced in America. Thus, I think, the increased produce from India (which in no case can be large for some years[90]) will probably be met by this outside demand, leaving no greater quantity than now available for the home market. True Ceylon (a new field) will increase the supply, but it will not be by much for some time. Take it all in all, I look hopefully at the prospects of Indian Tea in the future. I never anticipate a range of prices as good even as ruled in 1881, but a good deal better than we had in 1882, and thus enough to make the industry a paying one.
I have lately received a valuable paper on Indian Tea statistics from Messrs. Gow and Wilson, Indian Tea brokers. I cannot transcribe the diagram they allude to, but otherwise I give the complete paper as sent me:—
19, Little Tower Street, Mincing Lane,
London, 15th February, 1883.
“Indian Tea Statistics.”
Dear Sir,—Now that the annual figures are made up, we beg to submit a statement showing the continued progress made by Indian Tea in public estimation, together with comparative figures relating to the consumption of China and Indian Teas,—And remain, dear Sir, yours faithfully,
Gow and Wilson, Indian Tea Brokers.
The very considerable increase in the home consumption of Indian Tea during the last quarter of 1882, and January this year, once more attracts attention to the growing importance of India as a field of production, and the increasing appreciation of the British public for Indian Teas, whether used alone or mixed with China sorts. Notwithstanding the check to consumption in the early part of 1882, when Indian medium and common Teas were just 50 per cent. dearer than they now are, the average monthly deliveries of the first three months were 3,670,000 lbs., or 230,000 lbs. a month more than the average of the first quarter of 1880, with prices much the same at both periods. Quotations last year receded step by step, and, as prices dropped, so we found the consumption grew, till for the last quarter of 1882, with its very low range of prices, the average monthly deliveries reached the unprecedented figures of over 5¼ million pounds.
The average monthly deliveries in each quarter of the last five years have been as follows:—
(In thousands of lbs., 000’s omitted.)
| Jan-Mar. | April-June. | July-Sept. | Oct-Dec. | |
| 1878 | 3,216 | 3,129 | 2,869 | 3,041 |
| 1879 | 3,444 | 2,688 | 2,461 | 3,155 |
| 1880 | 3,441 | 3,418 | 3,522 | 4,228 |
| 1881 | 4,197 | 4,172 | 3,824 | 4,094 |
| 1882 | 3,670 | 4,125 | 4,116 | 5,254 |
During the year 1878, out of every 100 lbs. of all descriptions of Tea consumed in this country, 23, or one in about four-and-a-third, was Indian Tea. Last year the proportion was 31 per cent., or nearly one in three.
These figures show, in the clearest manner, how steadily Indian Tea is becoming popular.
The unevenness of the quarterly deliveries of China Tea in the year 1878 and 1879 is due to the apprehensions felt in those years that the duty would be increased. In consequence, clearances were hastily made before the Budget announcement, and the deliveries immediately after sank to very low figures, increasing again as stocks of retailers were depleted. In March, 1880, again there was a pressure to clear Teas, which brought up the total deliveries of the first quarter to a high level. A considerable check was given to deliveries of Indian Teas during the latter part of 1881 and the early part of 1882 through the rise of prices during that period.
The most noticeable feature of the last three calendar years is the stationariness of deliveries of China Teas at the reduction from the level of both 1878 and 1879. Approximately the deliveries of China and Indian Teas in the five years ending 31st December in each case may be given, in millions of pounds, as follows:—
| 1878. | 1879. | 1880. | 1881. | 1882. | |
| China | 121 | 125 | 115 | 111 | 113 |
| Indian | 37 | 35 | 44 | 49 | 51 |
The deliveries of China Tea have receded from 125 million pounds in 1879 to 113 million pounds in 1882, while the home consumption of Indian Tea has increased from 35 million pounds to 51 million pounds in the corresponding years.
Notwithstanding the supply of Indian Tea for the season 1882-3 is estimated at the unprecedented figure of 55 million pounds against the actual imports in the previous two season years of about 50 million and 46 million pounds respectively, it appears not unlikely the consumption of 1882-3 will once again, as in 1880-81, overtake the supply and reduce the stocks by July next to the equivalent of less than three months’ deliveries.
We find that there has been received to the 31st December last, 33,218,000 lbs., leaving to arrive 21,782,000 lbs. for the six months ending 30th June next, to make up the estimated supply of 55 million pounds which, according to Indian advices, will be available for shipment to this country. The imports of the current six months, therefore, will be but slightly in excess of those of the corresponding half-year, when 20,948,000 lbs. were received; for although the shipments of 1882-3 are expected to show an excess of more than five million pounds over 1881-2, exporters this season have hurried forward their Teas early and in the six months ended December 31st the arrivals in the United Kingdom were 32,218,000 lbs. against only 28,947,000 lbs. in the corresponding half of 1881.
The significant feature of the movement, however, is the very agreeable surprise, month by month, caused by the publication of the delivery figures. These compare for the last few months as follows:—
Deliveries of the last Four Months compared with corresponding Months.
| October. | November. | December. | January. | |
| lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | |
| 1882-3 | 5,132,000 | 5,174,000 | 4,457,000 | 5,502,000 |
| 1881-2 | 4,353,000 | 4,205,000 | 3,724,000 | 4,104,000 |
| Increase | 779,000 | 969,000 | 733,000 | 1,398,000 |
A continuance of similar large increases is most probable, especially as we compare with the relatively small deliveries of February to April inclusive of last year, when only 10,489,000 lbs. were taken from warehouse, against 12,782,000 lbs. in the same months of 1881—a decrease of 2,293,000 in three months. Part of the decrease may be attributed to the then higher range of medium and common Indian Teas.
The net result of the above statistics is that—with no materially larger arrivals visible, even with the liberal allowance of 5,000,000 lbs. increased shipments for the crop year—the deliveries give every promise of showing very considerable expansion, and, as we have said, threaten for the complete year to more than absorb the extra supply.
To enable anyone to check and form an independent opinion on the forecast we venture to give, we present below the imports and deliveries, half-year by half-year, for the four seasons 1879-80 to 1882-83 inclusive, with the totals of each crop year:—
Imports of Indian Tea.
| 1879-80. | 1880-81. | 1881-82. | 1882-83. | |
| lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | |
| 1st July to31st Dec. | 23,537,000 | 29,142,000 | 28,947,000 | 33,218,000 |
| 1st Jan. to 30th June | 15,868,000 | 16,819,000 | 20,948,000 | [91]21,782,000 |
| Season year | 39,405,000 | 45,961,000 | 49,895,000 | [91]55,000,000 |
Deliveries of Indian Tea.
| 1879-80. | 1880-1. | 1881-2. | 1882-3. | |
| lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | |
| 1st July to 31st Dec. | 16,847,000 | 24,352,000 | 23,755,000 | 27,109,000 |
| 1st Jan. to 30th June | 19,465,000 | 25,106,000 | 23,386,000 | [92]28,802,000 |
| Season year | 36,312,000 | 49,458,000 | 47,141,000 | [92]55,911,000 |
These figures show an estimated supply to the end of June next of 21,782,000 lbs., and an estimated consumption of 28,802,000. The former is based on the statements that the available supply for the United Kingdom will be 55 million pounds, and the latter on the actual delivery to January inclusive, and estimated average deliveries of 4,500,000 lbs. a month for the remainder of the half-year. Having these figures before us, we can proceed to calculate the effect on stocks.
| At 31st December last we had in warehouse | lbs. |
| a stock of | 21,716,000 |
| Add six months’ imports to June 30th | 21,782,000 |
| Total supply | 43,498,000 |
| Deduct estimated deliveries six months | 28,802,000 |
| Leaving probable stock at 30th June | 14,696,000 |
| Which will compare with (at 30th June, 1882) | 15,991,000 |
In stating the deliveries at an average of 4,500,000 lbs. for the next five months, we have taken this amount merely for the purpose of arriving at a conclusion. In case the deliveries of the months of February to June inclusive average, as is generally expected, 5,000,000 lbs. a month, the stocks at 1st July next will be under 12,200,000 lbs., or 3¾ million lbs. less than at the corresponding date.
We can but consider this a very healthy outlook, especially as it is simultaneous with the estimated decrease in the supply of China Tea, and the possibility that the shipments to the United Kingdom may not reach the estimate. With respect to the latter contingency, we must recollect that new markets are being rapidly developed for Indian Tea. Australia, America, and other parts than the United Kingdom took over three million pounds from 1st May to 31st December last year, compared with less than a third of that quantity shipped thence from India in the corresponding period of 1881. A continuance of this rapid rate of outside demand would considerably curtail our supply, and develope the growing Indian industry.
Gow and Wilson,
19, Little Tower Street, London, E.C.
The diagram omitted shows as follows: it gives the results quarterly, I only give them yearly in millions of pounds.
CONSUMPTION OF CHINA AND INDIAN TEAS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
| 1878. | 1879. | 1880. | 1881. | 1882. | ||
| China | 128½ | 125¼ | 114½ | 111¼ | 114 | All are Millions of Pounds. |
| Indian | 36 | 35½ | 43¾ | 48½ | 51½ | |
| Totals. | 164½ | 160¾ | 158¼ | 159¾ | 165½ |
Thus, while China Tea consumption has decreased in five years by fourteen and a-half millions of pounds, Indian has increased by fifteen and a-half millions!
It must be remembered that the former table given at page [194] deals with imports, this with consumption, and thus the difference in the figures.
The following extract from the Tea Gazette (January, 1883) is interesting in a statistical point of view:—
The exports to Australia (which, as it is well known, have increased more than twenty-fold in six years) now occupy a position only second to that of the United Kingdom; and if the P. and O. Company would see its own interest, it would facilitate by every means in its power so important a development of a great industry.
The Straits Settlements, in spite of their proximity to China, took last year ten times the quantity they took six years ago; and Persia, strange to say, has taken 54,712lbs. against 334lbs. in 1876-77—Turkey in Asia and Egypt, together, having taken also 21,488lbs. against 886lbs. in the same period.
Mr. Liotard is of opinion that these are not a tithe of the openings that might be found; and it is to be hoped that at the Amsterdam Exhibition and elsewhere the Tea Syndicate will in no way relax its efforts.
The imports of China Tea to India have, in the six years also above referred to, increased about 60 per cent. Speaking on this point, we are of opinion that the Syndicate might well make efforts to increase the local consumption of Indian Tea to the replacement of Chinas, and we feel sure that such organised exertion would be followed by very satisfactory results.
The re-export of China Tea from India shows four times the quantity of six years ago—by far the greater quantity going to Persia and Turkey in Asia. Mr. Liotard thinks that the N.-W. P. and the Punjab might appropriate a good deal of this trade; and from the character of the Teas of these districts we are disposed to agree with him. The great increase of export from Karachi shows that this, to some extent, is being done.
The abolition of the duty on China Tea imported to India, under the recent free trade policy, appears to have had a prejudicial effect on the planters in Northern India—who can ill afford it. The figures given at the commencement of the pamphlet show that the number of plantations in Northern India has increased in six years from 851 to 1,422, and the area from 4,246 to 7,466 acres; the outturn from 1,311,113 lbs. to 2,271,773 lbs. These figures speak of great activity in production, and show the necessity for every exertion being employed to open out new markets. A combined Syndicate for all the districts in Northern India, on the lines of the one now established in Calcutta, is suggested, but how far this is practicable we are not at present prepared to say.
The following, too, from the Tea Gazette this year is in some respects hopeful:—
We see from the North China Herald that the exports of Tea from Shanghai and the Yang-tse ports to England during the current year have fallen off some six and a-half million pounds (8½ per cent.), and that there is also a decrease of some six million pounds in the quantity sent to America this last year—making a difference of nearly thirty per cent.
On the other hand, there has been an increase of nearly three million pounds (45 per cent.) in the direct export to Russian ports. Two large cargoes—one of nearly three million pounds destined for England, and one of almost two million pounds bound for Russia—were lost, so that the real increase of China Tea sent to Russia is only one million pounds, which would reduce the increase to about 15 per cent. The decrease of Tea sent to England becomes even greater, reducing the receipts as compared with last year by nearly ten million pounds. Another aspect of the question must, however, be considered, namely, that the real displacement, i.e., in the amount of Tea destined for the English market, would be only six and a-half million pounds, and it is not safe to reckon on a recurrence of loss of such a heavy quantity by shipwreck.
The decrease of China Tea sent to America is almost entirely in green Teas, there being only a falling off of 40,000lbs. in black, as compared with one of over six millions in green Tea. The falling off as regards the English market is much more evenly distributed between the two varieties, the difference being greater in that of black than of green Tea.
While America takes from the Shanghai ports over four times as much green as black Tea, England, on the other hand, takes eleven times as much black Tea as it does of green Tea.
These last facts might make it worth the while of planters in the North-West Provinces and in the Punjab to combine to exploit the American markets with half-chests of green Tea, for the manufacture of which those districts are famous, and for which there is so little demand at present in the Central Asian market. We merely throw out the suggestion, knowing that most of the planters in these parts could ill afford to risk much in such an experiment. It is possible that the Syndicate here, which already ships largely to America, might arrange to ship green Tea for such of the planters in Northern India as cared to join the Calcutta body.
The American demand for green Tea is so large, that a quantity representing the entire outturn of Northern India would form but a small percentage of the whole, and if Indian green Tea from the Himalayas were taken up in that market, a demand for the whole quantity produced might easily arise. Whether it would ever be able to compete with China green Tea in the matter of price we do not know, and we should think it would be up-hill work, and attended with some loss—in the first instance at any rate.
The more Tea each individual drinks, the better doubtless for the producers. It is satisfactory therefore to find the consumption per head is increasing in the United Kingdom as follows:—
| 1870. | 1875. | 1880. |
| lbs. | lbs. | lbs. |
| 3.81 | 4.44 | 4.59 |
Nearly 1 lb. per head more in 1880 than 1870!
A few figures as to Indian Teas in Australia and America will finish this Chapter of Statistics.
The consumption of Indian Tea in Australia and the Colonies stands as follows:—
| 1880-81 | Little under | ¾ of a | million lbs. |
| 1881-82 | Nearly | 1 | million „ |
| 1882-83 | Estimated | 2 | million „ |
This is a satisfactory increase, but when we consider how vast is the great Australasian field, it stands to reason two millions is but a small fraction of what it eventually may be.
The outdoor rough life, led more or less in the Colonies, makes its inhabitants the largest Tea drinkers in the world. For instance, each white denizen in New Zealand drinks nearly three times as much Tea as each person in Great Britain!
The following was the consumption in lbs. per head in 1878:—
| United Kingdom. | Victoria. | N. S. Wales. | Queensland. | New Zealand. |
| 4.66 | 6.92 | 7.53 | 9.16 | 11.05 |
I now give, in millions of lbs., the consumption in 1880 in the same Colonies:—
| Victoria. | N. S. Wales. | Queensland. | New Zealand. |
| 5½ | 5 | 2 | 3 |
But what vast tracts exist outside these. The total consumption of all the Colonies must be very large. We make the best Tea in the world in India, why should we not have a large share of the market?
The population of Australia is nearly 2¼ millions, and of Tasmania and New Zealand nearly ¾ million, say three millions in all, or say three-quarters of the population of London. What a field exists there for Indian Tea!