| Tea consumption became part of the way of life and | | | | as a health drink in London, at Garway's Coffee |
| culture in America, too. Though North America has | | | | House. Slowly, the price fell and tea became available |
| only one tea plantation, about 20 miles west of | | | | to the public. |
| Charleston in South Carolina. In England it is much | | | | Peter Stuyvesant brought the first tea to the United |
| more fashionable than coffee. | | | | States in the settlement of New Amsterdam (later |
| All tea comes from the same plant Camellia sinensis | | | | renamed New York by the English). The British |
| an evergreen, tropical plant that originally grows in | | | | government put very high taxes on it. The colonists |
| China and India. | | | | couldn't do anything about these taxes, because |
| Like wine, variations in tastes and characteristics are | | | | there were no colonists in the government in England. |
| depend on the type of soil, cultivar selection, altitude, | | | | The Americans became very angry about this and in |
| and climate conditions where the plants are grown. | | | | 1775 attacked a boat carrying a lot of tea and |
| Different types processing also affect the taste, as | | | | dumped 342 chests full of tea into the harbour at |
| does the addition of essential oils or fragnant herbal | | | | Boston, Massachusetts. That was the Boston Tea |
| additives. Camellia sinensis likes a deep, light, acidic | | | | Party. |
| and well-drained soil. | | | | In England, tea became popular first among the rich. |
| There are many supposed references to tea in the | | | | They had parties and picnics, visited each other, and |
| centuries before Christ, even Confucius allegedly | | | | afternoon tea soon became a habit. |
| referred to tea in one of his books. | | | | Two distinct forms of services evolved: 'High' and |
| According Chinese mythology, tea was 'discovered' | | | | 'Low'. 'Low Tea' was served in aristocratic homes of |
| by a Chinese emperor, Shen Nung. Four thousand | | | | the wealthy and featured gourmet tidbits rather than |
| years ago, on his way to a distant region of his | | | | solid meals. The emphasis was on presentation and |
| empire he stopped to rest. Dried leaves from a | | | | conversation. Conversely, 'High Tea' was the major |
| nearby tea bush fell into the water that his servants | | | | meal of the middle and lower classes and consisted |
| were boiling for drinking. And when he drank some, | | | | of mostly full dinner. |
| he found it very refreshing and delicious. So the first | | | | Nowadays, maybe the most popular tea is the English |
| cup of tea was an accident. | | | | Breakfast Tea. It is a fine black tea, which often |
| The tea consumption spread throughout the Chinese | | | | includes Keemun, is blended with milk or lemon (but |
| culture. The first book on tea 'Ch'a Ching' was written | | | | never together). |
| by the Chinese author Lu Yu. The three- volume | | | | The Irish drink their Irish Breakfast Tea, it is very |
| book covered tea growing, processing, drinking and | | | | strong, usually served in the morning, except for the |
| history. | | | | Irish, who are known to drink it all day. It is served |
| The book inspired Zen Buddhist priests to create the | | | | with lots of sugar and milk. |
| Japanese tea ceremony, the cha-no-yu. It was in the | | | | Earl Grey is named after a prime minister. It is a |
| 6th century. That's why tea in Japan has always | | | | smoky tea with a hint of sweetness and is served |
| been associated with Zen Buddhism. Tea drinking | | | | plain. |
| influenced the whole culture, for example | | | | Black Teas and Oolong Darjeeling refers to tea |
| architecture: a separate tea-room is constructed in | | | | grown in this mountain area of India. Oolong is a |
| Japanese homes so that one enters on your knees | | | | mixture of green and black teas. This elegant tea is |
| to show humility. | | | | sometimes called the champagne of teas. It has got |
| It was the Portuguese traders who first imported | | | | fruity taste. Darjeeling has a flavor that reminds |
| tea to Europe, later it was transported to France, | | | | muscatel. Mustn't be taken with milk. |
| Holland, and the Baltic countries. | | | | Green Tea is a strong herbal tea. Its use as a healthy |
| Tea is relatively late appeared in England in the mid | | | | tea is growing in popularity. Green Tea is also part of |
| 17th century, but quickly became popular. King | | | | the Japanese tea service. |
| Charles II and his Portuguese bride were tea-drinkers | | | | And finally, 'burgundy of teas', the Chinese Keemun |
| and they brought tea tradition to England. In the | | | | Tea, a mellow, wine-like tea, never used with lemon. |
| beginning, it was very expensive. The first tea is sold | | | | |