Tea, as we know it, is a beverage drunk warm or cold to quench thirst, warm hearts and sometimes greet guests. We, as a society, have been accustomed to having tea at our fingertips, reaching for the kettle when you fancy a brew. But, unfortunately (and slightly scarily), tea hasn’t always been such an accessible commodity, in fact, certain civilisations, compared to others, are tea novices.
Unsurprisingly, I am a huge tea enthusiast, discovering new tasteful blends and sitting with a chunky book is one of my most enjoyed pastimes, as I am sure it is for many. The quirky new creations and adventures mixtures are what have spurred the trend of tea drinking. I think it is only fair that we delve into the history of tea since I believe so many are uneducated (like I was!). Researching this topic and discovering the history of tea has been one of my favourite tasks yet, the journey of ‘tea’ is quite remarkable.
I think it only necessary that before you continue to read, you must select your preferred tea and read with a mug full (I know I’m certainly writing this with a tankard of honey and lemon).
So, how did tea become a quintessential British trademark?
Although it is difficult to validate the origins of tea, there is a legendary belief that tea drinking dates back to 2737 BC in China! This tale proposes that Chinese Emperor, Shennong (who is often recognised as a herbalist), had leaves blow off a tree into his boiling water. Upon drinking he was surprised at the pleasant taste and the supposed restorative effects. It is rumoured that tea was then predominantly used for aid in digestion.
The truth of this legend is unknown, but, what is certain is that tea has been around for thousands of years. Containers that would be assumed to have stored tea have been discovered by archaeologists and dated back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC- 220 AD), where tea was for medicinal purposes. The Chinese believed tea to have healing health properties and it became a staple drink for them, in fact it became the national drink of China!
The popularity of tea in China continued to grow exponentially, philosopher Laozi even branded tea as “the elixir of life” (clearly he shared the same passion as me).
Then, the Song Dynasty refined the art of tea making, now loose leaves were used in order to retain the delicate taste that we all love, and, yes, this loose leaf process is the same used today for our special brews! There were several more advancements made by the Chinese regarding brewing and drinking of tea, but something arguably more fascinating is the journey tea had across the continents…
The first movement of tea across borders was to Japan, where it was most notably consumed by monks and the wealthiest citizens. The spread across Asia was incredible and graced the far east with the fame of being the origins of tea.
Whilst the notable introduction of tea in India was in the 1600s for medicinal purposes, the rise of the blend was prevalent in the 1800s, when tea drinking incorporated its way into culture opposed as a sporadic herbal remedy.
(Now - a quick and brief history on India)
India was imposed by the East India Company (EIC) in 1612 and they began to exploit Indian workers and produce.
The EIC began to involve themselves in the art of tea making, they increased the production and in 1820 tea was produced on a large scale in the region of Assam, India. So, here we notice the intrusion of European culture in and amongst Asia - aha! We have a connection, the journey of tea, due to the unwelcome colonisation in India, developed…
I suppose now the most interesting thing to discuss, after realising the connection of Asia to Europe, is how the popularity of tea up scaled, and with such haste.
The 18th century saw tea as a commodity only for the upper class, since produce that was imported came with a large price tag, King Charles II in 1660 really catalysed the development of tea drinking for noblemen, something that only escalated in the 1700s.
As the accessibility of tea increased, the prices reduced, the middle classes (in the late 18th century) could readily drink the beverage that held such respectability - the act of tea drinking came with an expectation of acting with manners. The normalisation of offering tea when meeting family and friends grew, thus the demand for tea grew exponentially, especially in the midst of the 1850s. Soon, both British and Irish cultures saw tea as a almost a patriotic item, with all classes always indulging in the warm beverage that was often served with milk and sugar.
The journey of tea is truly remarkable, you dare not agree - because even after centuries the love the nation has for tea is ever growing. We continue to witness developments and new concoctions that make our taste buds tingle, I certainly hope that the respect we have for tea (and of course the treats that often accompany it) remain a staple in British culture - especially after realising the long journey it took to greet us!
Duck x
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