The Legendary Origins of Tea
After water, tea is the world’s most consumed drink, with a rich history spanning over 4000 years. It originated in Ancient China, and was said to have been discovered by the legendary Emperor Shennong. As the story goes, it is said that he was sitting under a tree when he instructed his servant to boil water. A leaf fell from the tree into the pot, and after tasting it, he realized that it could be used as an antidote for many different types of poisons. He then began to further research the plants, inventing many different types of tea and discovering their medicinal properties in the process.
Archaeological Evidence
Emperor Liu Qi was the 6th emperor of the Han Dynasty, and was responsible for the imposition of limitations on the power of feudal rulers. He died in 141 BC, and was buried in the Yangling Mausoleum of Han. In 2016, archaeologists located evidence of tea in the mausoleum, in the form of miniature buds. To date, this remains the earliest archaeological proof for the consumption of tea in Ancient China.
The Introduction of Tea to the West
The Portuguese, masters of maritime trade, played a pivotal role in introducing tea to Europe. Establishing trade routes with China in the 1550s, they brought back many exotic goods, including tea. Macau, a Portuguese enclave on China’s southeastern coast, became a crucial hub for the tea trade. Jesuit missionaries, stationed in China, discovered tea’s popularity and adopted its consumption. They wrote about tea’s benefits, sparking curiosity among European intellectuals.
First Recorded Shipment (1609)
The first recorded shipment of tea arrived in Amsterdam in 1609, courtesy of the Dutch East India Company. It’s popularity soared in The Hague, and was later introduced to other European countries, and in 1640 it reached New York in America, then known as New Amsterdam.
English Popularization
Tea gained traction in England in the 1650s, particularly among the aristocracy. Catherine of Braganza, Charles II’s Portuguese wife, introduced tea to the English court and made it a fashionable beverage amongst the upper echelons of British society.
Introduction Of Tea In India
The introduction of tea in India was a deliberate move by the British East India Company in the 1820s. Seeking to reduce their dependence on Chinese tea and capitalize on the growing demand in Britain, the Company aimed to establish a local tea industry in India.
Sources
- “The Cambridge History of China” (Cambridge University Press)
- “The Oxford Handbook of the History of Consumption” (Oxford University Press)
- “Tea: A History” by Roy Moxham (Penguin Books)
