Tea Blog

For those of us who appreciate tea, it can be easy to forget that tea drinkers are somewhat of a minority in the United States.

Despite popular belief, Americans did not abandon tea following the Boston Tea Party. Today, the country is perhaps best known for its consumption of iced tea and sweet tea, particularly in the southern states.

For a deeper look at the history of tea in America, see

this review of The True History of Tea by Victor Mair and Erling Hoh
,
which explores the global development of tea culture, including its role in early American society.

Tea was already well established in the American colonies long before the events of 1773. In fact, by 1768, colonists were consuming an estimated two million pounds of tea annually.

This and other details are discussed in

this overview of tea consumption in colonial America and early trade patterns
,
which provides context for tea’s importance in daily colonial life.

The perception—especially among some British observers—that Americans struggle to prepare a proper cup of tea has a long history.

For example, Edward Money’s travel work The Truth About America (1886) includes critical commentary on tea preparation in the United States. In

this chapter discussing tea consumption in America from a 19th-century perspective
,
he described American tea as being of poor quality and lacking proper preparation.

Money’s strong views on tea were shaped by his involvement in the Indian tea industry, which he explored further in

this discussion of his book on tea cultivation and production in India
,
where he documented the development of tea growing and processing methods.

Tea has continued to attract attention from writers over the years. In 1955, future food writer Craig Claiborne published an early piece on tea history. For a look at that perspective, see

this historical article on tea from a mid-20th-century American culinary viewpoint
,
which offers an interesting snapshot of tea culture during that period.

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