Tea in America
The English East India Company was instrumental in the introduction of tea to America. Although the Dutch originally introduced tea to America in 1650, tea sales in the US did not begin until 1690 when the English East India Company began exporting tea to the colonies. The popularity of tea in the colonies grew until 1765 when the English Parliament passed the Stamp Act levying taxes on tea and other imported products. Dutch tea smuggled into the colonies to avert the English taxes strained the revenues of the English East India Co., and rather than lose their market, they persuaded Parliament to enact the Tea Act of 1773. This act allowed the direct importation of tea with the taxes to be reimbursed. A small 3 pence per pound tax on tea imports remained however, and it was this tax which ultimately acted as the catalyst for the Boston Tea Party and the Revolutionary War.
Although both the Stamp Act and another like it called the Townshend Act, were repealed after protests from the colonists, the remaining tax on tea represented a lingering obstacle to freedom from "taxation without representation." Movements to boycott tea flourished, and numerous women's groups resolved to drink only "liberty tea" made from other plants such as chamomile and sage.
Ships sailing into the harbors of Boston, New York and Philadelphia in 1773 were informed that attempts to unload tea in these ports would be considered unauthorized, and that no duty would be paid on tea being unloaded. Despite appeals to the Governor of Massachusetts to protect these shipments, the agents of the English East India Company were told to unload everything else but return to England with the tea.
In Boston, three ships docked and were prevented from unloading their tea cargo. They sat in the harbor for the required 20 days, at which point, if the duty had not been paid on the tea, customs officials were to seize the cargo. On December 14th, the night before the 20th day, men dressed as Indians boarded the ships and dumped 18,000 pounds of tea into the Boston harbor. The "Boston Tea Party" as it became known triggered a series of similar acts of defiance against British control of the colonies. Parliamentary efforts to stifle these uprisings ultimately inflamed the colonists' spirit of revolt and eventually led to the Revolutionary War.
During and shortly after the War, it was considered unpatriotic to drink this beverage which had come to represent the British domination over the Colonies. But once independence from England had been gained, it was again acceptable to drink tea. A significant trade relationship with China was begun which the colonies traded fur for tea, spices and silk. The combination of tea becoming a politically correct beverage and its renewed availability, returned tea drinking to its place in the American culture.
Despite tea's place in early American history, the U.S. has always been seen as a largely coffee drinking nation. The 80's and 90's lifestyle, with its emphasis on productivity and fast paced lifestyle nurtured a "coffee mentality." Coffee houses, shops and espresso carts have sprung up everywhere with double espresso, lattes and cappuccinos having become nearly household words. When we drink tea in the U.S., it is more often iced than hot. In fact, over 80% of all the tea consumed in this country is iced.
Before the turn of the 21st Century, researchers began uncovering the many different health benefits of tea. Ironically, tea has long been considered a healthy beverage, but now enjoys the scientific evidence to support the suppositions. (See our section on the Health Benefits of Tea on our website.)
Now, all around the world, tea commands some well-deserved attention. People once again have decided to stop for a cup of tea. Hotels have begun to serve high teas in the afternoon, and tea houses, some associated with gift shops, are emerging throughout the United States. Many news articles about the health benefits of tea encourage daily consumption of black, green, and herbal teas. The "gourmet" tea market with emphasis on flavored "specialty" teas has enjoyed considerable success. Bottled, and flavored teas are served in many restaurants, and consumption overall in the U.S. has continued to grow. Over 127 million people in the United States now drink tea in some form every day - an interesting statistic for a country known more for its coffee consumption. In short, tea is once again coming into its own.
Davidson's large product line includes all of the various types of true tea, as well as an expansive assortment of herbal infusions, in many different styles. Long known for our quality "gourmet" emphasis, Davidson's focus on organic tea has blurred the division between teas consumed for medicinal reasons and teas drunk strictly for flavor. Back to Top