The Virginia Gazette

Yesterday was tried before the commissioners of Excise, a cause in which the publick are much interested, against Philips, Lloyd, and Co. for manufacturing certain leaves in imitation of tea, of which great quantities are sold by the smugglers for tea; when Messrs. Newman, Penhorne, Taddy, Brewster, and other eminent dealers, were subpoenaed to give their judgment on the leaves, and all agreeing that the composition mixed with tea produced in court, was not all tea, but mixed with certain leaves cured in imitation thereof, the defendants were brought in guilty, and must pay a fine of 100 l. for every pound weight found in their possession.