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:--

+----+----------+
| | Millions |
|Year|of Pounds |
+----+----------+
| 70 | 13 |
| 71 | 15-1/4 |
| 72 | 17 |
| 73 | 18-1/4 |
| 74 | 17-1/4 |
| 75 | 25-1/2 |
| 76 | 29-1/4 |
| 77 | 31-3/4 |
| 78 | 36 |
| 79 | 38-1/2 |
| 80 | 44 |
| 81 | 45-3/4 |
| 82 | 54-3/4 |
+----+----------+

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 48-3/4 50-1/2
Stocks on 31st December 18-1/2 21-3/4

During the _last 3 months of_ 1882 the deliveries averaged 5 million pounds per month. In January, 1883, they were 5-1/2 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, } 5-1/2 „
and local consumption in India }
------------------
Leaving available for the home market } 56-1/2 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 5-1/4
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 to}
31st 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 3-3/4 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 | 128-1/2| 125-1/4| 114-1/2| 111-1/4| 114 |}All are Millions
Indian | 36 | 35-1/2| 43-3/4| 48-1/2| 51-1/2|} of Pounds.
-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-----------------
TOTALS.| 164-1/2| 160-3/4| 158-1/4| 159-3/4| 165-1/2|
-------+--------+--------+--------+--------+--------+-----------------

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 (8-1/2 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 3/4 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 New
Kingdom. Victoria. N. S. Wales. Queensland. 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.
5-1/2 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 2-1/4 millions, and of Tasmania and New Zealand nearly 3/4 million, say three millions in all, or say three-quarters of the population of London. What a field exists there for Indian Tea!

AMERICA.

The yearly consumption (Canada is included) is over eighty million pounds, nearly all supplied by China and Japan. It is quite lately Indian Teas have been sent to America; so far, their reception has been favourable. But the Americans are accustomed to a greener Tea than we make in India, and this will prove a difficulty. Still we can make the Tea they like, _if_ they will buy it. It is early to speculate much as to America, but I think we shall succeed little by little, especially as in the States they are awaking to the fact that both China and Japan Teas are adulterated.

In closing this chapter I must put on record the fact, known to all in India, that the great success achieved in Australia, and the opening thus early attained in America, is entirely due to the labours of the Calcutta Tea Syndicate, and that I firmly believe, much as they have done, they would have done still more had they been properly supported by larger supplies of Tea by the planters in India, who, as a class, are strangely blind to the advantages of co-operation. I can only hope in this respect they will do better in future.

FOOTNOTES:

[90] It will not be large because much in the way of extensions has not been executed lately. A higher range of prices will doubtless cause more land to be cultivated, but no produce from such will be available for four or five years.

[91] Estimated on basis of 55,000,000 lbs. available for shipment to the United Kingdom.

[92] Estimated on average monthly deliveries, February to June inclusive, of 4,500,000 lbs.