In China and Japan, tea was consumed in a very specific manner, involving an intricate process. With books like Lu Yu’s The Classic of Tea to guide the Chinese in everything tea-related, being able to prepare and consume tea properly also became a sign of social status. In fact, those who could not serve tea properly were scorned, while the Chinese court was known to host tea parties. Not only was the type of tea important, but so was the water, as well as the manner in which the tea was served.
Similarly, Japan also had intricate tea ceremonies; perhaps even more so than China. Not only were the tools involved important, but so was the order in which certain steps were performed, epitomizing Japanese culture. Though China, Japan, and Europe would all emphasize the medicinal properties of tea, this was more apparent in the former two.
Likewise, tea parties were considered sophisticated events in Europe as well, especially when aristocrats took part in them, and like the Japanese, the utensils with which tea was consumed held importance, and most Europeans had special teaware. However, they were much less formal, in the sense that drinking tea was also a casual affair. Not only did women indulge in cups of tea at cafes, but tea was a socializing affair for young couples, to ensue in tea gardens. Europeans also drank tea differently, adding milk, water, and sugar whereas their East Asian counterparts typically did not.
Another difference stemmed from the commonality of tea. While tea eventually became a common drink in Europe, just as it already was in China, the quality of tea differed. Poor families, unable to afford higher-quality teas like the aristocracy, were often forced to reuse their tea, stretching it out so that they could still have tea. Moreover, the tea they had was often not pure tea, having been adulterated by merchants who wished to increase profits.
Interestingly, while tea arrived in Europe around the same time as coffee, it did not have the immediate success that coffee had for two reasons. First, it was rare, meaning that unlike coffee, which was accessible due to coffeehouses and the persistent trade between Arabs and Europeans, the customers it had were few. This links to the second reason, which is that it was expensive. Rarity meant that what little was available was precious, causing the tea to be dramatically high in value, especially when compared to the prices in China. Thus, the select few that were able to afford it were the elite.
Moreover, unlike coffee, which was drunk by white-collar workers and intellectuals, tea was the drink of factory workers who needed to be able to maintain their concentration for long periods throughout the day. Also containing caffeine, tea allowed workers to stay alert, whereas alcohol would only sedate workers. It enhanced the productivity of factory workers, consumed during tea breaks where laborers could refresh themselves.
Tea may have begun its journey in rural China, but it has traveled far and wide, reaching England and various other countries. Today, tea is drunk all over the world, a symbol of hospitality and sophistication.
Source:
Standage, Tom. A History of the World in 6 Glasses. Atlantic Books, 2006, pp. 141-176
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