The story of tea began in ancient China over 5000 years ago. Sin Nong, an early emperor was a skilled ruler, creative scientist and patron of the arts. His far sighted edicts required among other things, that all drinking water be boiled as a hygienic precaution. One summer day while visiting a distant region of his realm, he and the court stopped for a rest. In accordance with his ruling, the servants began to boil the water for the court drink. Dried leaves from a nearby bush fell into the boiling water, and the water became infused with a brown colour. As a scientist the emperor was interested in the new liquid, drank some, and found it very refreshing. And so according to legend tea making was discovered.
EUROPE’S FIRST TEA DRINKERS |
The Dutch were the first tea drinkers outside Asia. They were the first to establish trading links with China, early in the 17th century successfully fighting off the British.
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Tea Time And Food
Before the arrival of tea to drink, meal times for most well-off families were extremely alcoholic. There was ale even for breakfast.
And the main meal was accompanied by large volumes of beer, liquor and wine. Diners often drank themselves under the table.
Tea For Everyone
From the earliest days, tea brought people together. The wealthy, the ordinary and even a poor visited the new tea gardens that opened in the 18th century London Modeled on a Dutch idea of taking tea outside, people could walk and be entertained, dine and drink tea in private summer houses.
Tea was a great leveler outside London. Servants in Britain’s great houses had tasted tea, and by the mid 18th century many
servant had their wages calculated to include a tea allowance. Mill owners and land owners began to provide tea for workers as a more productive alternative to ale and spirits. Smuggling played an important part in bringing tea to the masses. Smuggled tea could be had for half the price of official tea.
A 19th century report – the commission of Excise on Smuggling – estimated that nearly US$ 1.7 million was lost annually in revenues on smuggled tea, an immense sum for that time.
In 1833 the Last India Company monopoly was ended. Taxes on tea were successively reduced, new cheaper teas arrived from India, Ceylon and consumption soared. Tea was now for everyone. A unique blend of necessity, pleasure and luxury.
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