Tea in China
According to Chinese Legend, the origin of the drink tea was discovered in 2732BC by Chinese Emperor Shen Nung. He drank boiled water for the sake of hygiene. One day while the water was boiling, a few leaves fell into the water. He found the resultant brew refreshing and delicious and hence tea was discovered.
The first written reference of tea appears much later on in 3rd Century BC, when tea was recommended for increasing concentration and awareness. Until the 3rd Century AD tea was used as a medicine. The popularity of the use of tea grew throughout China during the 4th and 5th centuries. It was not until the Tang Dynasty (618 - 906 AD) that tea was drunk for pleasure and not just for medicine. This period has also being referred to as the golden age of tea.
During this dynasty, Lu Yu was commissioned to write the first book about tea, which included different varieties, the plant's origin, methods of processing the leaves and of how to brew the drink.
Tea in Japan
In 729AD, the Japanese Emperor served tea to 100 monks. No tea was grown in Japan at this time and therefore it was likely to have come from China. Tea was grown in Japan during the 9th Century when the monk Dengyo Daishi returned from China with seeds of the tea plant. Tea was used by the monks as an aid to meditation. The use of tea increased in popularity throughout Japan.
In the twelfth century, the monk Eisai returned from China back to Japan with more seeds and Chinese customs of drinking tea. In China, many of these rituals associated with tea drinking have declined. However, even today the Tea ceremony in Japan still exists. It involves a pattern of behaviour which allows those participating spiritual refreshment and harmony with the Universe.
Tea in Europe
It was either Portuguese or Dutch merchants who brought tea to Europe in the 17th Century. The popularity of tea drinking grew quickly in Holland and was introduced to Italy, France and Germany. However, tea drinking did not became popular in either Germany or France. By the end of the century the market for tea was only growing in England and Russia.
Tea in Russia
Tea first arrived in Russia in 1618 as a gift for the Tsar. By the end of the century, regular trade existed, with caravans of 200 - 300 camels, who trekked to the Chinese border and back again to Moscow. One journey would take around 16 to 18 months. The Russian Caravan tea, a smoky black tea, could initially only be afforded by the aristocrats of the country. In 1903 the Trans-Siberian railway was complete, leading to the end of the caravan trade.
Tea in America
Tea arrived in America along with the colonizing groups of Europeans. Tea was considered fashionable and represented elegance, good breeding and manners.
The Boston Tea Party
This occurred when a new tax on tea was introduced by the British. The tax was implemented to support the army and government officials in the colonies. Within two years the colonial settlers were refusing to allow dutiable goods(such as tea) ashore, because they did not believe the tax to be fair. These ships were being forced to return to Britain with their cargo. In Boston, the ship called The Dartmouth, was boarded by a group of settlers who threw 340 chests of tea overboard into the harbour. This was later known as the Boston Tea Party. The War of Independence soon followed, as did America's coffee-drinking tradition.
Tea in Great Britain
The first recorded date of its use was in London in 1658. In the 18th Century tea became Britain's most popular drink, replacing ale and gin. In the 19th Century, Afternoon Tea was introduced by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, who after becoming peckish in the middle of the afternoon asked for tea and some light refreshments. This custom soon became fashionable among all the upper classes of society.
During the opium wars China placed a ban on the export of all tea. Britain had been considering other locations where the tea plant could be grown. When native tea trees were discovered in Assam (Northern India) in 1823 small plantations were established. Plantations soon spread to Darjeeling, Cachar, Sylhet and other North Indian regions. In the latter part of the 19th Century, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) became a major producer of tea. After their coffee crop failed in the 1860's tea was used as an alternative cash crop.
Following both world wars the use of tea underwent a decline in Britain, with the arrival coffee and cocktail bars. Although tea was still drunk at home and at work, it was not until the 1980's when interest in tea began to increase again, with the arrive of teashops and tea rooms. In the 21st Century, the internet revolution has allowed a wide variety of teas to be available to the general public. Tea's popularity is again growing, with more and more people eager to try the many different varieties. Tea is still Britains favourite drink, with an average person drinking 3.32 cups a day.
