Keyword: The History of Tea

The History of Tea

Drinking tea began in India, China, and Japan almost 5,000 years ago. Dutch ships travelling from China were the first to bring tea to Europe. Tea arrived in England in the 17th Century and instantly became very popular with the people of that country. In the 1600s, many people died from the Plague. It was thought that boiled water for tea was safe to drink; making it a medicinal drink rather than a drink for pleasure.

As the popularity of tea grew, so did its importance. The British built some of the biggest and fastest ships in the world, Clipper Ships, to bring the tea from China more quickly.

Traditional Afternoon Tea is usually around 4:00pm, just before dinner. With Afternoon Tea it is customary to serve tea snacks such as scones, tea cakes, and tea sandwiches. The tradition of Afternoon Tea started in the 18th century as a way of keeping the hunger away before dinner.