He drank the brew and declared it had medicinal powers. Eventually the tea plant was developed and carried over land and sea for planting and harvesting in the Far East. Dutch tea traders then brought it by sea to countries in the west. It arrived in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and became popular in coffee houses as a medicinal and digestive beverage, but quickly caught on for its flavor.
During the reign of King Charles II, pottery, fine china teaware and accessories came into vogue. Today, tea production is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Successful plantations in such unlikely places as South Africa and Charleston, South Carolina, are producing new and exciting varieties and flavors.
Anna, the Duchess of Bedford is credited with creating the "Afternoon Tea" ritual in the 1840's. A lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria, she disliked the "sinking" feeling she experienced in the afternoons and requested that her maidservant prepare a tray of tea and small sandwiches or pastries to be brought into her boudoir.
This became a regular highlight of her day, one she decided to share with her friends. She moved it to her parlor and delighted her guests with a wonderful array of tea, sandwiches, scones, pastries and cakes. The ritual of the Afternoon Tea was born!
The original phrase, "tea for two" was an English street cry in the 18th century that vendors used to advertise their bargain-priced tea. The normal price for a pot of tea was "thruppence", but vendors hungry for more business lowered the price to "tuppence" or two pence, by shouting "Tea for Two!"
In Queen Victoria's reign, her family would gather daily for afternoon tea with Her Majesty performing the pouring duties. One day the Queen was unable to attend, so a family member stepped up and asked, "Shall I be Mum?" a phrase which caught on and has remained an endearing custom to this day.
During the Temperance Movement, tea was served at meetings, promoted as a nonalcoholic alternative. However, not all temperance supporters were tea lovers. John Wesley, the great evangelist, preached against tea as a waste of money that should be spent on the poor. However, during a prolonged illness, Wesley turned to tea and became quite fond of it.
The tradition of enjoying a "cuppa" tea is a mainstay in Britain, but tea went out of vogue for a long period of time in this country after the Boston Tea Party. The bias against tea remained until after the Civil War at which time there was a renewed interest in the beverage. There was another resurgence of popularity when tea bags were introduced.
We are currently enjoying a new appreciation for tea due to the proven health benefits and wonderful selections of varieties and flavorings.
Varieties of Tea
Brewing the Perfect Pot
