The Tea Tradition
Tea has long been surrounded by certain traditions. From the Japanese tea ceremony, with its intricate propriety, to the English "afternoon tea," a certain amount of ceremony and tradition have always been associated with tea drinking. With today's hectic pace, we still stop to make tea. We can still break our routine for a moment and treat ourselves to a simple, refreshing cup of tea. That "tradition," although greatly simplified from the English and Japanese tea ceremony, remains a modern tradition nonetheless. For regular tea drinkers, the anticipation of tea time with as much or as little ceremony as time will allow, remains part of its appeal.
The T'ang dynasty writer Lu Wu in his treatise Ch'a Ching characterized tea in 780 as a prescription for harmony and balance, which when prepared properly, made beauty and harmony possible in one's life. It was in this three volume work that tea and its preparation were elevated to a spiritual level.
The proper preparation and consumption of tea could be seen as symbolic of concern for orderliness and balance in the individual himself. This interest in the way the tea is prepared seems to have been responsible for the plethora of tea brewing methods and appliances.
From whimsically shaped teapots to elegant Russian samovars, tea brewing remains more than simply heating the water and pouring it over tea leaves or bags. When it is served, how it is brewed, even the type of cup it is served in has always been important to tea lovers.
By the 18th century, the English had adopted the late afternoon tea as a ritual. The origins of the afternoon tea came as a product of eating at very late dinner hours (often 10 o'clock). The long period between lunch and dinner was broken up by afternoon tea and cakes, including their famous crumpets and scones. Fortified by both the late afternoon respite and refreshment, the work day could continue until the evening's dinner commenced. Tea drinkers continue to associate tea time with rest and leisure to this day.
Perhaps the height of tea drinking fashion during the 18th century was the phenomenon of the tea gardens in England. Tea's fashion ability during the time led to a preponderance of garden parties. Ladies and gentleman would gather to take their tea outside in a large garden setting replete with orchestra, decorated walks, outdoor games and sport, and generally an atmosphere of refined camaraderie. Although the "tea garden" was not to last as an institution, its appearance punctuated the developing character of tea as a social if not festive beverage.
Today, people drink all different types of tea and herbal infusions for many different reasons, not really so different from those of previous centuries: the health benefits, social interaction, relaxation and simply, refreshment. Back to Top