A Note on the Origin and Growth of Packet Teas

摘要

In the principal importing markets of the world almost all tea today is sold to the public in packets as a proprietary article under a brand name. The tea in these proprietary packets is a blend of teas from a number of different estates in varying districts and usually from estates in different producing countries, the particular teas being constantly varied, according to seasonal and market fluctuations, in order to keep the quality and price of the blend uniform. The teas from any individual estate, district or country are, therefore, in effect the raw material for the finished article of the blender's proprietary packet. These proprietary packets, under their brand names, have been so extensively advertised and merchandised over many years thattoday the public (and, indeed, the grocer, too) knows and thinks of tea almost exclusively in terms of the various branded packets competing for the public's favour, and the consumer's choice is virtually limited to one or other of them.