Written By Annabelle Barna
Tea is so much a part of everyday life in Britain that most people don’t think about how a plant from China became Britain’s favourite drink. Tea is often thought of as being a British drink, but people have been drinking it for thousands of years.
The Birth of Tea
The story of tea begins in China. According to Chinese legend, in 2737 BC, the Chinese emperor Shen Nung was sitting beneath a tree while his servant boiled drinking water when some leaves from a Camellia sinensis tree blew into the pot. Shen Nung decided to try the infusion that had accidentally been created. The drink he sampled is what we now call tea. There is no concrete evidence that this story is true, but tea drinking was well established in China many centuries before it was introduced to the West.
Tea was first introduced to Japan in the 8th century by Japanese Buddhist monks who had travelled to China to study. The first authentic records of tea in Japan date to the beginning of the 9th century, during the reign of Emperor Saga (785–842 AD). After the 10th century, envoys—official messengers and diplomats sent by Japan’s rulers to foreign lands—were no longer sent to China, leading to a long pause in the growth of tea culture in Japan.
The Growth of Tea in Europe
Tea was unknown to Europeans until the 16th century. Portugal was the first European country to introduce tea to the continent, having made trade contact with China in 1516. In 1569, a Portuguese missionary mentioned tea in a letter home. He wrote that tea was a bitter, red-coloured medicinal drink called “Chá,” which wealthy people served to their guests.
In the final years of the 16th century, the Dutch began to encroach on Portuguese trading routes in the East. The Dutch were the first to ship tea as a commercial import. Tea soon became a fashionable drink among the Dutch and spread to other countries in continental Western Europe. However, because of its high price, it remained a luxury drink for the wealthy.
How Tea Became a Beloved Drink in England
In 1662, Catherine of Braganza, a Portuguese princess who adored tea, married Charles II and introduced the beverage to the Royal Court of England for the first time. Her love of the drink established tea as a fashionable beverage at court, and that popularity soon spread among the wealthy classes as a whole. Capitalising on this trend, the East India Company began importing tea directly into Britain, placing its first order in 1664.
The establishment of tea shops marked another significant turning point for tea in England. This innovation made tea accessible to the public—especially women, who were socially restricted from entering coffee houses. Tea shops gave women a respectable venue to purchase and enjoy tea without having to enter male-dominated spaces. Catherine’s royal preference had already helped shift tea from a masculine to a feminine beverage, redefining social norms across the country.
The Rise of Tea Smuggling in Britain
The 18th century saw a dramatic increase in tea smuggling due to exorbitant government taxes. High taxes made legally imported tea unaffordable for most, leading to a flourishing illegal trade. Paradoxically, tea smuggling made tea accessible to the general public. As it transitioned from a luxury item to a everyday staple, it grew popular across all social classes, further solidifying its status as the national drink.
Tea During the World Wars
Tea’s role in British life was officially recognized during the First World War when the government took over the importation of tea to Britain to ensure this essential, morale-boosting beverage remained available at an affordable price. During World War II, tea was considered so vital to British morale that the government prioritized its supply alongside other critical wartime goods. These efforts reflect the deep-rooted significance of tea in British society and its role in sustaining public spirits during crises.
Conclusion
From black tea to green tea to oolong blends and herbal infusions, all traditional teas share the same historical origin. For generations, people around the world have enjoyed the rich cultural traditions built around tea. Traveling from China to Japan, Portugal, and finally to Britain, tea has touched millions of lives for hundreds of years. Ultimately, tea became central to British life for one major reason: a Portuguese queen inspired an entire nation to fall in love with a simple brewed leaf.
About the author: Annabelle is an 8th-grade student at Shaler Area Middle School and a writer for the SAMS Salmon. She enjoys history, musicals, reading, writing, playing her oboe and flute, listening to music, drinking ice tea, and watching movies.
EMAIL CONTACT: Barnaa31@shalerarea.org
A very informative and well written article. Annabelle Barna researched the topic very thoroughly. Well done.