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New Zealand Tablet, 29 July 1915, Page 48

Why Tea Costs More— The Third Article of a Series dealing with a question which vitally affects every housewife. The increased demand for tea today is due to to the fact that huge quantities are wanted for the 25 million men under arms. The Heads of the Armies of*the world know that there is no drink so stimulating and beneficial, and hence they must have tea for their men no matter what it costs. Then, too, at the stroke of a pen, the great Russian Nation has been turned into a tea drinking people, and the money previously spent on Vodka is now available for the purchase of tea. But there is only a limited supply of tea and that supply is not sufficient to fill the present requirements. Hence at the tea auctions in Cevlon it has risen in price month by month, until to-day it costs the packer to 3d per lb. more than in August last. This, of course, affects New Zealand very greatly,, for the finest tea in the world has been sold here at prices which cannot be equalled. Although this seems a bold statement, it is one that will bear the closest investigation. For instance, a great proportion of the tea imports to England consist of what is known as “red stalk’’ tea, the lowest possible grade—so low that it is prohibited throughout Australasia. Yet even this lowest grade is sold in England at 1/6 or more per lb., while for fine teas of the quality of “Amber Tips,” 2/8 to 3/4 per lb. is asked. Tea experts the world over are astonished at the remarkable quality, flavour, fragrance and value given in “ Amber Tips” at so low a price, and it is because