The origins of tea drinking was first introduced to Europe by Portuguese traders who came across a strange but wonderful drink; the Chinese had been drinking tea for centuries. People have been sipping this beverage for about 4,000 years, according to archaeological evidence of ancient tea bits found in the mounds of Shang Dynasty ruins in China. Tea was used as a medicinal drink by people in China for more than 1,500 years before it became famous worldwide as an alternative to water because it contains fewer bacteria from human contact than other drinks on Earth. The beverage is still a common drink in rural areas of China. It is served at the beginning of meals instead of water because it is believed to stimulate appetite and improve digestion.
In the 15th century, tea drinking was a supper-only beverage in Europe. It usually was enjoyed with something sweet—most often sugar or honey. In England, tea went from an exotic new drink to a national drink of the working class after they were granted access to import the trade from China. The first colony in England was established in 1650, and tea became popular when the British East India Company introduced it as a middle-class beverage for members of Parliament. By 1720, tea drinking had become a standard part of British culture. It was the first widely available drink after water.
In the 18th century, tea became a drink of the wealthy as it gained a reputation for being healthy. Wealthy people began serving tea as an alternative to coffee which was thought to be unhealthy because coffee was often mixed with chicory. Coffee mixed with chicory, a herb native to Europe, gave it a bitter taste and, at that time in history, caused people to feel sluggish since that was not its original purpose.
Tea drinking then made its way to France since it was the first country to make a trade agreement with China. It also was adopted into American life by the 18th century. Tea consumption rose in popularity until the Revolutionary War when Patriots went without tea during the conflict. The biggest increase in tea consumption occurred after 1850 when American culture became industrialized, and everyone could afford to drink something besides water. Tea was also an important form of currency in America at the time.
During this time, tea drinking changed from a custom to a science. As tea became more popularized, it became the most popular drink in the world by the end of the century. In 1842, it was imported into Great Britain’s colonies, and soon afterward, tea plants were brought out to other parts of the world, with Latin America being one of the first countries to cultivate it. The first tea plantations in Latin America were established in the early 1800s. By then, however, tea had already begun its way into United States culture at the end of that century.
In the 1880s, tea plantations were established in Assam, India. These areas were the biggest producer of tea until the end of World War II when tea shops became prevalent in Great Britain. American servicemen stationed there began to visit these shops, which had a plethora of teas to choose from. This spread the popularity of tea drinking into Japan and other parts of Asia. The Japanese favored green tea until they discovered black tea during their trade with China and began to cultivate it on their own plantations.
Around the 1940s, tea became suddenly popular among young men and women. At that time, the postwar was a time of permissiveness in America. Many young people drank what they wanted, which gave rise to the hippie culture of the era. This new movement started a huge tea ceremony campaign in America, which continues today. As Americans continue to drink more and more tea, so has its popularity around the world. China, Great Britain, and the United States are the top three tea-consuming countries.
Countries In Which Tea Is The Most Popular:
1. China: Tea is the most popular beverage in this country. It has been sipped by those who live there since its introduction to the area by Chinese traders hundreds of years ago. Today, tea consumption is at its highest point in this country, with over 2 billion kilograms of tea consumed annually.
2. Great Britain: This country was the first to introduce tea drinking to the rest of Europe after their traders discovered it in China. In North America, tea is a common beverage and is served at most meals. It is also the most popular non-carbonated drink in America today.
3. United States: Tea consumption in this country has risen greatly over the past few decades with its increasing popularity among young people and its introduction into modern culture through fast food restaurants.
Tea is, in fact, the second most widely drunk beverage after water. It is a very European drink. This makes sense since it was introduced to the rest of the world during the colonial period of Great Britain in India and China. Tea drinking is popular with most people regardless of whether they live in China or America because it has become an important part of our culture.
