Tea and the British Empire
Is there any drink more associated with an elegant British party than tea? I don't think so. I mean an afternoon meal in England is still frequently referred to as "Tea". And especially when we're talking about historical Britain and the regency and Victorian eras, tea is extremely prevalent and iconic! But what is the real history of tea and the British empire? Tea is a drink that originated in a region in modern-day northeastern Burma and southeastern China. During the Tang dynasty it became increasingly popular and spread to other East Asian countries. It was not until the 16th century that tea spread to Europe and it was not until the 17th century that tea first spread to England. Tea was not a widespread drink in Britain until the 18th century remaining very expensive until the second half of the century. Twinings opened the first British tea room in 1706 In the 18th century, tea was only grown in China and it was the top Chinese import to Britain, over silk and...