Tea can be found throughout the modern world. If you are a Star Trek fan then you will no doubt recall that Captain Picard always asks for "Tea, Earl Gray, hot". Tea is therefore central to our society.

Where Does Tea Come From?

Tea is made from the leaves of a plant which grows a lot in China. It is possible to make a drink recognisable as tea simply by dropping the leaves of the tree camellia sinensis in boiling water. The Tea Industry today, however, has a far more complex method.

A Brief History of Tea

Tea, as a drink, is known to have existed at around 2700 BC in China. However, the first mention of it in literature is not until 350 AD, and the first book solely on the subject of tea not until 780 AD. Tea was not found outside of China and Japan until the Portuguese and Dutch brought it to Europe at the beginning of the 16th century. Tea was introduced to Britain's coffee houses around 1640.

Tea in Britain

Tea became very popular and was thought to have strange healing powers. Soon the consumption of Coffee had fallen so that only a few households drank it, whereas Tea was drunk by all.

1675 saw the fate of Tea in the balance. Charles II forbade by proclamation the sale of tea, coffee, chocolate and sherbert from private houses. Designed to suppress sedition and intrigue, this act was so unpopular that it never became statute law. Six days later he repeated the proclamation. Act XII of 1676 imposed duty on the sale of such beverages and required licences of coffee house keepers: but this also proved impossible to enforce. Taxes on tea nonetheless remained punitive until 1784 when it was reduced by the Commutation Act to counter smuggling into the Britain.

How Does One Make the Perfect 'Cuppa'?

The mystery of the perfect cup of tea is one that has intrigued people for centuries. Still there is no answer, some even say that it depends on a persons mood. One man can give you some tips.

Lastly, tea - unless one is drinking it in the Russian style - should be drunk without sugar. I know very well that I am in a minority here. But still, how can you call yourself a true tealover if you destroy the flavour of your tea by putting sugar in it? It would be equally reasonable to put in pepper or salt. Tea is meant to be bitter, just as beer is meant to be bitter. If you sweeten it, you are no longer tasting the tea, you are merely tasting the sugar; you could make a very similar drink by dissolving sugar in plain hot water.

A Nice Cup of Tea by George Orwell

Evening Standard, 12 January 1946

For a step-by-step guide click here.

Why is Tea Important?

Tea has always been with you even if you haven't drunk it. It has followed you through televisions, in super-markets, and in your home. It has also been mentioned in The Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy!