Have you ever wondered what is the origin of tea?
Tea is an essential component of my morning ritual. As I take that first sip, the world has stopped.
I observe the quiet swirling of the green leaves in the dark brew; I savor the intoxicating aroma, relish the beautifully bitter taste, and embrace the comforting warmth that travels down my throat.
Tea holds a significant place in the lives of many people. For some people, tea is how they start their day, while for others, tea is hospitality and togetherness.
In some parts of the world, tea is an opportunity for self-reflection, to feel one with the universe and even the path to immortality.
In the United States alone, 160 million Americans drink tea every day. Global world tea consumption is projected to rise to 7.4 billion kgs per year by 2025.
But how did tea make its journey from its place of origin, China, to become the second most popular beverage worldwide?
In this article, we will explore:
- The Origins of Tea
- Tea’s Spread Across Asia
- Tea’s Arrival in the West
- Global Tea Culture
- Famous Tea Cafes
Disclaimer: This post was written with the help of ChatGPT and Bard, but all content has been curated, heavily edited, and fact-checked by the author.
The Origin Of Tea
Tea’s Origin In Popular Legend
There are many stories surrounding the origin of tea, with some dating back to 2500 BC. But my favorite is a rather gory one.
According to legend, a monk named Bodhidharma had been meditating for nine years.
But just as he was about to achieve enlightenment, he fell asleep. In frustration and anger, he tore off his eyelids and threw them on the ground.
From the ground rose the first tea plant, a gift from Bodhi to help monks focus during meditation.
While the truth of this story is somewhat questionable, we know that tea’s earliest known cultivation took place over 6000 years ago in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Assam, India.
Tea Initially Spread Through Medicine And Religion
Initially, the use of tea was mostly medicinal. It was either chewed or cooked with porridge.
Only 1500 years ago, people began boiling the leaves and drinking tea. It was often mixed with ginger, onion, orange, and salt to treat various diseases.
Bodhidharma’s story also reflects how religion and the history of tea are closely intertwined.
Chinese monks quickly embraced tea as it helped them stay awake during long hours of practice. Tea also made them more alert and present, and drinking tea became a part of meditation itself.
Religious rituals associated with preparing and consuming tea began to take shape. Given the significant role of religion in ancient Chinese culture, it also helped popularize tea.
Tang Dynasty Popularized Tea In China
With the rise of the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD), stability in the Chinese economy paved the way for the flourishing of art and literature, and so burst forth the tea culture scene.
Tea was mentioned in poems and books. Women were being painted playing musical instruments and sipping on tea. Tea even gave rise to a new art form: chabaixi, akin to modern latte art. But instead of using milk on coffee, artists use water to create intricate designs on tea foam.
Teahouses soon sprang up, attracting people from all social classes. Thus, tea became an integral element in shaping Chinese culture and everyday life.
However, the history of tea is not without its share of pain and hardship.
As tea became a symbol of wealth and social status, emperors imposed demands on farmers to provide tea as a tribute in addition to their usual rice crops.
This led to immense suffering, as farmers often faced starvation and struggled to cultivate enough rice since they had to prioritize tea production.
Important Milestones In Tea History
An important milestone in the history of tea occurred during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). This is when the trend of loose-leaf tea was on the rise.
Previously, tea was dried and compressed into bricks or cakes, parts of which were broken off and brewed in hot water.
Additionally, the Chinese started oxidizing tea to make black tea around this time. Before that, they had only consumed green tea.
Tea’s Spread Across Asia
Tea Spread In Asia Through Trade Routes
By the late 6th century, tea had become so popular that it became one of three essential export goods in China, alongside porcelain and silk.
Southwest Chinese provinces traded tea with Tibet, along the ancient Tea-Horse Road, in exchange for war horses.
Tea also traveled along the Silk Road to other parts of East Asia, as well as Siberia, Burma, and the Middle East.
Buddhism Made Tea Popular In Japan
Buddhist monks brought tea to Japan sometime between the 6th and 9th centuries. Tea became very popular across Japan with the spread of Buddhism.
Japanese tea culture rose independently with their variations of tea and ritualistic tea ceremonies, some of which are still practiced today.
Tea’s Arrival in the West
Catherine of Braganza Made Tea Culture Fashionable in Europe
In the early 1600s, the Dutch merchants first brought tea to Amsterdam in Europe. At the time, Europeans were predominantly coffee drinkers and didn’t quite take to the taste of tea.
History largely credits Catherine of Braganza, the Portuguese princess who married Charles II of England, for popularizing tea in Europe.
Catherine enjoyed drinking tea so much that it became a fashionable thing to do in English aristocratic society.
Duchess Anna Invented Tea Parties
In the 1840s, an English Duchess named Anna initiated the tradition of afternoon tea and tea parties, hosting small gatherings with friends, where tea was served alongside light appetizers. This custom persists today.
Competitive Tea Trade Led To Innovation
By the 1700s, tea in England was 10 times more expensive than coffee. Merchants raced to bring back tea from China so they could sell it first.
The trade for tea became so competitive that it gave birth to the fastest ship of the time, the Clipper, which revolutionized world trade.
A Dark Turn in Tea History
The Opium Wars
From here though, things start to take a dark turn.
China only wanted silver in exchange for tea, which became too expensive for the British East India Company.
So instead, they turned to selling opium to the Chinese, which sparked a very serious opioid crisis. By the 19th century, every 3rd adult in China was afflicted with opium addiction.
In 1838, a Canton province governor, confiscated and discarded about 1.2 million kilos of opium into the Pearl River.
This act started the First Opium War (1839-42), which ended with the humiliating defeat of the Qing dynasty.
Moreover, the Chinese were forced to cede Hong Kong and open multiple ports for trade with the British.
This led to more turmoil and rebellions in China. In 1856, Britain and France waged a Second Opium War which again, China lost.
Yet more ports were opened for trade, and opium was subsequently legalized in China.
The Man Who Stole Tea From China
The British East India Company, still not happy with China’s monopoly over tea, sent a botanist by the name of Robert Fortune to steal China’s tea-making secrets.
In 1848, Robert traveled to China in disguise, due to China’s prohibition on sharing tea information and the restriction on foreigners’ entry.
Robert learned everything he needed to know about tea production, processing, and equipment, and brought back 6 tea masters to Darjeeling, India.
With favorable weather conditions for growing tea, India started mass-producing tea at a much cheaper price.
Britain also expanded its plantations to other parts of the world including Burma, Ceylon, and East Africa. These regions are major manufacturers of tea today.
Tea Today: Global Tea Culture
How Religion Influenced Tea Culture
Tracing tea’s origins back to ancient China allows us to understand religion’s profound influence on Chinese culture and traditions.
Monks first started drinking tea to stay awake during their long hours of meditation. But tea also made them feel more alert and present.
Drinking tea wasn’t just a boost of caffeine, but it became a halting point: to stop and immerse yourself in your surroundings, to reflect on your thoughts, and to explore your inner self.
Understanding Chinese tea culture also helps one appreciate East Asian schools of thought like Taoism, Confucianism, and Zen/Buddhism.
The love for tea gave rise to the Chinese tea ceremony, deeply rooted in Taoist principles.
The ceremony not only celebrates tea as a beverage but the whole process of tea as an art and a way of life.
In fact, the Chinese term, Cha Dao, means the way of tea, or reaching enlightenment through tea. The Japanese word for tea ceremony, Chado, is very similar and means the same thing.
At the heart of the Chinese tea ceremony lies the Taoist principle of harmony. The act of drinking tea is striving for harmony between the heavens, man, and earth, all of which are one and the same.
Tea Rituals in Japan
The Japanese tea ceremony, on the other hand, lasts 4 hours long and is based on 4 core principles: ‘wa-kei-sei-jyaku’: harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility.
It is about leaving the worries and thoughts of the world outside and mindfully enjoying a cup of tea. It is about togetherness and respect between the host and the guest.
There are specific rules for a Japanese tea ceremony. One such rule that greatly interests me is that conversation between the host and guest is encouraged to be as limited as possible.
This is because the host and guests connect not through conversation, but by being wholly present and respectful.
Another important thought in these ceremonies is the concept of slow living. Tea masters take 15-20 minutes to brew and serve one cup of matcha.
This embodies the concept of slowing down life, focusing all your energy on the task at hand, and doing it well so that one can savor every moment of it.
Tea Culture Today
While most people around the world don’t take 4 hours to prepare, pour, and drink their tea, tea still holds great ritualistic importance in people’s lives.
Tea is still about togetherness and connection. It allows for the free flow of conversation and exchange of ideas. It is still about being present, and slowing down life, if only for a few minutes.
Tea has not only influenced philosophy and ways of life, but has also inspired art, music, and literature.
Famous Tea Cafes
As we’ve already established, tea culture and traditions vary greatly around the world. Tea means something different to each person and each country.
Consequently, there is a very wide range of tea houses around the world.
Some are steeped in centuries worth of history; some offer novel experiences either through the architecture or landscape, while others are very much about the tea itself.
While I could probably spend the rest of my life talking about each teahouse without getting through the exhaustive list, here are three that are currently at the top of my bucket list.
Sengan-en Matcha Cafe, Kyushu, Japan
Sengan-en is a tranquil, garden space of 12 acres, with the enchanting backdrop of Kinkou Bay and Sakurajima, the most active volcano in Kyushu, Japan.
It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is recognized as a National Place of Scenic Beauty.
In the middle of the gardens is a historic villa, occupied by the Shimazu clan in the 1800s, and the Matcha Cafe.
This teahouse serves the finest Matcha and Sencha and is also famous for the traditional Japanese treats served alongside the tea.
Besides taking a stroll in the quiet gardens, you can also partake in activities like archery, crystal cutting, and pottery painting. This one easily makes it to the top of the list.
Mariage Frères, Paris, France
The Mariage Frères opened in Paris in 1854. This age-old institution is largely credited for defining the French tea culture and are considered true connoisseurs of tea.
With a charming, apothecary-style interior and boasting a collection of 800 teas, Mariage Frères is a must-visit for any tea enthusiast.
Aside from their one-of-a-kind blends, they are also famous for their menu, where every food item is tea-inspired.
The Ritz, London, U.K.
For the epitome of a quintessentially British afternoon tea experience, few places rival The Ritz in London, which has upheld this age-old tradition since 1906.
Afternoon tea is served in the renowned Palm Court, where guests can savor a delectable assortment of sandwiches and sweet treats while indulging in a fine selection of teas.
The ambiance is further enhanced by the melodies played by resident pianists or harpists, all within the exquisite setting befitting the regal affair that is afternoon tea.
Final thoughts
It is strange to think how a small plant like tea, that started its journey as medicine in a remote Chinese province, traversed across oceans and continents, shaping religions and starting wars along the way.
Tea has molded cultures for the aristocrats, the elite, the monks, and the common man. Today, tea is something special to all those who drink it.
It is widely believed that to understand a particular culture, one must explore its cuisine. Better yet, to truly soak in a culture, I say one must delve into its tea.
In this series of blog posts, we are going to dive into the most famous tea cafes around the world; from the most secluded teahouse atop Mount Huashan to the futuristic Sketch of bustling London.
We will also explore the beautiful tea plantations in tea-producing countries, and the unique experiences each has to offer. Stay tuned and keep sipping on that tea!
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