A Brief History of Tea

1

A

The story of tea began in ancient China more than 5,000 years ago. According to legend, Emperor Shen Nung was a capable ruler, an inventive scientist and a patron of the arts. Among his forward-looking laws was the requirement that all drinking water be boiled as a hygienic precaution. One summer day, while visiting a distant part of his empire, the Emperor and his court stopped to rest. In accordance with his rule, servants began boiling water for the court. Dried leaves from a nearby bush fell into the water, turning it brown as they infused. As a scientist, the Emperor was intrigued. He tasted the liquid and found it extremely refreshing. According to the legend, tea was discovered in this accidental way.

2

B

Tea consumption spread throughout Chinese culture and entered virtually every aspect of society. The first authoritative book about tea, which clearly reflected Zen Buddhist philosophy, was written approximately 1,200 years ago. The first tea seeds were brought to Japan by a Buddhist priest returning from China, where he had observed tea’s value in supporting meditation. He consequently became known as the "Father of Tea" in Japan. Because of this early connection, Japanese tea culture has always been associated with Zen Buddhism. Tea quickly received the support of the Japanese Emperor and spread from the royal court and monasteries into other sections of society.

3

C

Tea was elevated to an art form through the Japanese tea ceremony, which placed great importance on preparing and serving tea in the most perfect, polite, graceful and charming way possible. This purity of expression encouraged the development of a distinctive form of teahouse architecture that imitated the simplicity of a forest cottage. Japan’s artistic hostesses, the geishas, began specialising in the presentation of the ceremony. As increasing numbers of people became involved, however, the purity of the original practice was lost. For a time, tea ceremonies became noisy, excessively decorative and corrupted. Efforts were later made to restore the earlier simplicity. During the 15th and 16th centuries, tea came to be regarded as the ultimate gift. Even military leaders paused for tea before battle.

4

D

While tea was reaching a high level of cultural development in Asia, information about the unfamiliar drink began reaching Europe. Early traders mentioned it but were uncertain whether tea was supposed to be eaten or drunk. The first Europeans to encounter tea personally and write about it were Portuguese traders. Portugal’s technologically advanced navy had secured the earliest European trading rights with China.

5

E

Tea arrived in Europe during the 16th century and was brought to Holland by the Dutch navy. It soon became fashionable in The Hague. One reason was its extremely high cost -- more than $100 per pound -- which immediately restricted it to wealthy consumers. As imports gradually increased, the price declined. By 1675, tea was available in ordinary food shops throughout Holland.

6

F

As tea consumption increased sharply in Dutch society, doctors and university authorities debated its benefits and disadvantages. The public largely ignored this academic controversy and continued drinking the new beverage. The debate lasted from 1635 until approximately 1657. During this period, France and Holland were Europe’s leading tea-consuming countries.

7

G

As enthusiasm for Asian products spread through Europe, tea became part of everyday life. The practice of adding milk was first recorded in 1680. At about the same time, Dutch inns introduced the first restaurant-style tea service. Innkeepers supplied guests with portable tea sets containing heating equipment so that they could prepare tea for themselves and their friends in the garden. Tea remained popular in France for only about fifty years before losing favour to wine, chocolate and exotic coffees. Tea was introduced to England in 1660 by King Charles II and his Portuguese queen, both of whom were established tea drinkers. Tea enthusiasm spread through England as it had earlier done in France and Holland. By 1708, tea imports were thirteen times higher than in 1699, and people from every level of English society drank it.

8

H

Russian interest in tea began as early as 1618, when the Chinese embassy in Moscow presented several chests of tea to Tsar Alexis. Later in the century, a trade agreement between Russia and China allowed caravans to travel freely between the two countries. The journey remained extremely difficult, however. An average caravan contained between 200 and 300 camels, and the 18,000-kilometre journey took more than sixteen months. Eventually, tea became one of Russia’s most popular drinks, a position it continues to hold today.