History of a cup of tea
Did you know that your favorite afternoon pick-me-up or breakfast "tea" has a history dating back thousands of years? According to legend, the Chinese emperor Shen Nung "discovered" new way of tea in 2737 BC when some tea leaves were washed the wind in your pot of boiling water. Now, if the Emperor Shen was actually boiling water under that tree of tea or not, the fact is that tea has been a part of tradition China health and diet of at least 1700 years. It is first mentioned in a manuscript dating from 340 CE. Sometime around 400, people began to add other ingredients to your tea. Some popular additions were orange, ginger, spices and even the onion and garlic.
In 479, the Turkish traders found tea in the trade along the border with Mongolia. A little over a hundred years later, Buddhist monks to return to Japan in 593 seeds carried and leaves the house with them, introducing the Japanese to the "elixir of immortality." Japan, however, does not begin to grow their own tea until nearly half a century later. Even then, it is rare, expensive and strictly for the aristocracy and high priests.
Between 960 and 1280, taking tea becomes popular, first in China and Japan. Tea begins to lose its flavor before exotic. The tea becomes so important for the Emperor Hui Tsung has Tea and competitions and tea tasting events. Supposedly, he was so obsessed with tea does not count when the Chinese take over in 1125. Another invasion, this time by the Mongols ended the reign of tea as the drink of the aristocracy. Drinking tea became commonplace, even among the poorest peasants. Games Tea began to be made of common pottery and ritual of drinking tea sets and porcelain, is left to the rich and noble, such as tea became a part of everyday life. In fact, the Mongols were not big on tea and tea among the upper classes off, leaving the fate of the drink to the masses. In 1386, however, the Mongols fall from power and the rule of tea once more profits in China courts.
1400 In Japan, Zen Buddhist monks perfect ceremony tea and tea its modern takes on an elegant, almost religious, become an art form in itself.
Ages 17, 18 and 19 are perhaps the most important moment in the history of tea as it becomes a player, both in the societies and world politics. It is not until 1589 that Europeans even Tea learn, through the writings of an author Venetian. In 1610, the Dutch East India Company began exporting tea from China to Europe. The market as a drink exotic medicinal. Tea, however, is so expensive that, as in ancient China and Japan, only the wealthiest of the aristocracy can afford to buy tea and serving pieces. In 1635, drinking tea has captured the Dutch court, and during the mid 17th century, the wives of wealthy Dutch merchants are organizing tea parties. Tea becomes so popular across all social classes that many fear will be the ruin of family life. Ministers fear the ban call of things.
Tea makes its first appearance in the New World in 1650 when introduced by the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam. He arrives in England in 1657, where he promoted and sold as a healthy drink. In 1662, when the King takes a girlfriend to drink tea Dutch tea become so popular among the English to the consumption Alcohol actually experienced a decline. Sometime in the 1680s, Scotland was introduced to the pleasures of tea and tea in 1690 sold in the colonies American English. For beer early 1700 disputes in Scotland and England if the tea is overpriced, overtaxed, too dangerous to health and whether drinking will give rise to the moral decay of society. Start taking the tea houses of Britain's coffee, replacing coffee as the drink favored. The first tea shop opens in London by Thomas Twining in 1717. Shockingly, men and women often teahouse. After the French and Indian War, Parliament American British decided to tax the colonies to help pay the debts accumulated during the war. All these taxes except the tax on tea, was terminated in 1770. Settlers decide to boycott the purchase of tea in 1773 and 1774, tea "parties", the most famous of which is held in Boston, are held throughout the colonies. The settlers, in Philadelphia, New York, Maryland and Maine dump tons of tea in the ports. Parliament responds with law enforcement, and the closing of Boston Harbor. They plan to reopen port when the English East India Company is reimbursed for the lost tea. The settlers refused and continue to protest. These protests eventually become the American Revolution.
Meanwhile, in Britain, consumption of tea continued to grow. In 1785, 11 million pounds of tea were imported. Drinking tea reaches 2 kilos per person in 1797. By 1807, the consumption rate would be 10 pounds per person. This is partly due to the fact that Parliament is once again reduced import duties on tea. Afternoon tea is "invented" by the Duchess of Bedford in 1840. Harrods Department Store in London began as a wholesaler of tea in 1849. Tea and become synonymous with British empire. The 1880s, however, saw America become the world's largest importer of tea.
The twentieth century saw the introduction of several innovations tea. Iced tea made its first appearance in the 1904 World's Fair. Tea bags were invented in 1908 inadvertently when Thomas Sullivan, a New York importer, tea, tea shipped to customers in packages of silk. Customers pervaded the whole package and praised him for his tea was not needed effort. Today, Americans consume about 140 million cups of tea a day, with an estimated 80% of the tea and ice cream. However, surprisingly, remains almost the same as drinking age of Emperor Shen, way back when.
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Zhi Tea is a leading provider of high-quality organic tea online. Visit them today for a full selection of high-grade, fair trade organic Green, Black, White and Oolong teas. Also view their tea gift basket selection – a great gift for the holidays.
Antique Japanese Tea Pot – Small Ceramic Shudei Kyusu
