A cup of tea 

How tea spread to the world

The Burmese Bhuksho introduced tea leaves to China. They found them very useful because when they chewed them after meals, they not only found themselves active but also remained undisturbed from sleep during long meditation at night

Man from his earliest time of hunting and gathering made experiments with herbs and used them for food and medical purposes. Although clean water is the best drink to quench thirst yet he innovated different tasty drinks by using different available herbs and prepared juices, syrups and alcohol. Two of these drinks became popular in modern times nearly in every society; coffee and tea. Coffee arrived from Ethiopia and spread via Middle East to Europe where the coffee houses became the center of intellectual and commercial activities.

Writing on the origin of tea, Alan Macfarlane, explained in his book ‘The Empire of Tea’ that it was first found in the forest of Himalaya where monkeys chewed its leaves which made them energetic and fresh. The tribe men who observed it, made experiment of this practice and began to chew which also energised and refreshed them. They also started to use them to cure wounds and rub on face for cleanliness. Since then the leaves became popular in Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and different experiments were made on them which discovered further benefits. Gradually people knew the benefits of tea leaves and they were considered beneficial for health.

The Burmese Bhuksho introduced tea leaves to China. They found them very useful because when they chewed them after meals, they not only found themselves active but also remained undisturbed from sleep during long meditation at night. Therefore, Bhuksho and priests started to cultivate tea bushes instead of tea trees in their monasteries in order to get tea leaves easily. However, it is said that during the Han period Camel tea was discovered accidentally and when it was tasted by the emperor he liked it which made it a popular drink. During the Tang period, its use became widespread among the Chinese people.

One of the benefits of tea drinking was that it ended the stomach diseases. In the earlier period green tea was popular but later on black tea was also introduced as a drink. In the 17^th century because of its Chinese origin it was known as Chai or Shai and Tea.

From China it went to Japan where it soon became a popular drink. The Japanese became so addicted to it that they planted tea plants in almost every house and adopted rituals to drink it and every Japanese house used to have a tea room where family members and friends gathered and after performing some rituals drank it with devotion. Tea drinking ritual is still on in Japan.

The people of Tibet used tea according to their taste, custom and environment which is known as butter tea. The process of making it to grind with butter and after preparation, people consumed 8-10 cups a day. This mixture also serves as food which gives them comfort during the winter season.

Among the Europeans, Portuguese and Dutch traders first introduced it to Europe in 1610. People of England were unaware of tea till 1662 and first came to know when Charles II married to Katherine of Briganza, who brought a box full of tea to the English court. She herself was very fond of tea drinking and gradually it became popular from aristocracy to common people and replaced Coffee. There were nearly 300 coffee houses in London which suffered immensely as a result of the new drink imported from China.

Tea drinking brought social and cultural change in the life of the English people. Before it, full breakfast was taken. However, after its introduction breakfast become light and a hot cup of tea was added to it

Tea drinking brought social and cultural change in the life of the English people. Before it, full breakfast was taken. However, after its introduction breakfast become light and a hot cup of tea was added to it. In some families, the custom of bed tea became a routine. It also became customary to have a tea break in the offices and factories to provide some leisure time to workers. In the English families, tea drinking ritualised at nearly 4-5 O’clock in the evening when family members assembled around the table and discussed political and social affairs of the country over a cup of tea.

Tea drinking also reduced to culture which reflected in utensils used by tea drinking such as tea cups, spoons, saucers, milk, and sugar pots. The aristocracy imported them from China but Wedge Wood firm of England also manufactured them artistically. Some aristocrats used silver tea pots to show their wealth and refinement. The English people used to drink tea with milk but in other countries of Europe and Middle East, it is used without milk. It also became usual for the factory workers to have a cup of tea along with snaks after work and go home fresh. It is known as hi-tea, which is now very popular in five star hotels.

To be continued…