BEVERAGE OF THE FUTURE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8801, 1 May 1907, Page 3

BEVERAGE OF THE FUTURE.

An invention which may revolutionise the tta trade is "malt tea/' •which those "who have tested it declare will be the beverage of the jufca. The inventor is Mr H. Palmer. Patents have been applied for in all countries, and Mr 11. B. Webster, one of the largest tea merchants in Ceylon, is sailing shortly for Australia and America to form a large company to exploit the new beverage. "Ma':i tea" consists of pure tep. blended by a patent process and plant with a certain percentage of pure malt. The great advantage claimed for it are that the malt counteracts the harmful effects of ■tannin on the nerve 3 and digestion, that it can be sold at a very moderate price, and that the beverage can be Jireweti until all nourishment is taken out of the leaves without becoming bitier.

Mr Palmer showed two samples of lea to an Express representative recently. One was fine Indian Orange Pekoe, which cost 2s lid, first hand on the market, and the other was the " malt tea." The two samples were to all appearances exactly alike. The " malt tea" was made up of Indian broken Fekoe, which, with the duty, cost Is Id a pound, and about 25 per sent of shredded malt, which gives the very black broken Pekoe the appearance of goldentipped Pekoe, and reduces the cost on thei market to lCd a pound, duty paid. It should be possible, therefore, to buy "malt tea" retail at about Is Id, or Is 2d per pound. "' fi Several experts and chemists have tasted my.' malt tea,' " said Mr Palmer, "and fhoy declare that the malt has the curious effect of removing the tannin. They cannot quite explain this a 3 yet. They agree, however, that the addition of malt brings out the character of the tea, and they are delighted with the flavour, and aroma,"