晚清“假茶”问题再探(1870～1911)

Re-exploring the “Fake Tea” Problem in the Late Qing(1870～1911)

茶叶一直是清代最为大宗的出口商品之一。19世纪中叶,随着中国经济被卷入世界资本主义市场,茶叶的对外贸易也获得了很大的发展。但与此同时,“假茶”问题日趋严重,危及整个中国茶业界。当时茶业交易中的作伪手段极为多样,仅以生产过程论,就可大致划分为:增重、染色、翻新、添香四类。“假茶”成因较多,但基本能从主动和被动两方面进行解释。针对当时茶业中的伪劣、失信现象,时人并不乏进行反思、治理。然而晚清时期国家、社会弊病丛生,许多措施无从着力。“假茶”治理虽取得一定成效,但问题始终未能得到妥善的解决。

Tea had always been one of the most popular export commodities in the Qing Dynasty. In the middle of the 19th century, as the Chinese economy was drawn into the world capitalist market, the tea trade also developed greatly. However, at the same time, the problem of “fake tea” was becoming increasingly serious, jeopardizing the entire Chinese tea industry. The methods of counterfeiting in the tea trade were extremely diverse. Just in the production process, they could be roughly divided into four categories: dynamiting, dyeing, refurbishment and aroma enhancement. There are many reasons for the appearance of the problem, but it can basically be explained from both active and passive aspects. In response to the phenomenon of inferiority and dishonesty in the Chinese tea industry, there had been some reflections and rectifications. However, in the late Qing when the state and society were ill, many measures failed to be implemented. Thus, in spite of some rectification effects, the “fake tea” problem had not been properly solved.