The Evolution of Tea

Christine Nguyen

Coffee or Tea?

The History of Tea

• Origin: China• Proliferation: Tea Road and the Sea• Consumption was limited to royals

and nobilities before becoming commonplace

Tea

Spiritualitea

“Tea is cold, most suitable for people in pursuit of morality and

virtue.”

Fashion in Tea

Tang Dynasty Song Dynasty

Ming Dynasty

Hospitalitea

All is Fair in Love and Tea

• Matchmaker• Pure and noble love• LoyaltyWedding Ceremony• Present Tea (proposal)• Settle Tea (wedding)• Join Tea (marriage)

Introduction of Tea to Japan

• AD 803• Monks traveled to China’s temples

to study Zen Buddhism and brought tea seeds home with them

• Tea became available to everyone by 1500s

Sencha

Matcha

The Way of Tea: Chanoyu

• Zen Buddhism• Focused on aesthetics• Simple and natural• Elegant and clean

The Values of Tea

Wa: HarmonyKei: RespectSei: PurityJaku: Tranquility

SeizaTeishu

Introduction of Tea to India

• 1600s: Dutch introduce Chinese tea• 1834 East India Company• China raises tax on tea, bans export

of seeds and tea making techniques• Smuggled tea seeds to Assam, India

Chota hazri, “little breakfast”

• Black tea Assam variety• Needed industry to grow, finally

realized that India could be huge consumers

• Tea breaks in factories, coal mines, cotton mills, and on trains

Masala spices

Chai wallah

Are you thirstea?(yes)