Tea Blog

As noted previously, tea consumption in the United States lags behind some of the top tea-drinking countries, ranking relatively modestly on the global scale.

Even so, Americans have consumed enough tea over time that the federal government once established regulatory roles specifically devoted to monitoring its quality.

One such role was that of the Supervisory Tea Examiner, held by Robert H. Dick, who was interviewed in 1984 as part of an oral history project for the Food and Drug Administration.

The transcript of this extensive interview—spanning more than 50 pages—offers a fascinating look at the profession and can be accessed in

this FDA oral history transcript detailing the role of a Supervisory Tea Examiner
.

Dick recalls beginning his career with the FDA in 1937 and soon finding himself sampling tea shipments on New York piers during winter conditions.

His work later took him to various cities and included time as a seafood inspector before he returned full-time to tea evaluation following World War II.

The interview also explores the historical Tea Act, enacted in the late 19th century to regulate tea imports and ensure quality standards.

Additional topics covered include tea cultivation efforts in South Carolina, inspection protocols, and the responsibilities associated with evaluating tea quality.

Some sections even address more technical concerns such as contamination—ranging from insects to radioactive materials.

For a more formal and technical perspective on government involvement in tea procurement, you can review

this Government Accountability Office report on the U.S. Tea Examiner’s role in Department of Defense tea sourcing
,
which provides further detail on the subject.

See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles

on the tea blog author archive page
.

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