Among most people who bother to have an opinion on tea these days, that opinion is likely to be a positive one. Which has been the case throughout much of history, at least for the most part. From the earliest days of tea drinking in the West, there were those who praised tea for its health-giving properties and other virtues, just as there were those who remained somewhat less enthusiastic about the beverage.
An article that appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1897 laid out the issue in no uncertain terms, sporting the rather unambiguous title, “The Evils of Tea-Drinking.” The unnamed author seemed to believe that he or she was living in a time of “tea-worship” and decided it was necessary to warn the world about the dangers of what was described as “tea-debauchery.” Which sounds like pretty serious business.
Once a vice supposedly confined to “nervous old persons,” the author claimed that things eventually deteriorated to the point where “nearly everyone is more or less addicted to its use.” Much of this widespread tea consumption was blamed on the growing popularity of the afternoon tea tradition.
Though the author devoted considerable effort to criticizing this supposedly troublesome beverage, there is a brief acknowledgment that hot tea could be “acceptable as a stomachic and general stimulant.” Perhaps concerned that this was too much praise, the discussion quickly pivots to emphasize that iced tea was considered an especially poor choice.
But, of course, the complaints did not stop there. Milk added to tea receives criticism, followed by what the author describes as the “further perversion with sugar.” According to the article, all of this was “sufficient to cause obstinate gastric derangements and their manifold complications.”
And so the criticism continues. I could share more of the author’s dissatisfaction with the beverage we call tea, but I would recommend experiencing the article for yourself. Historical opinions about tea can be fascinating reading, especially when viewed through the lens of modern tea culture and contemporary attitudes toward tea consumption.
See more tea history and commentary articles by William I. Lengeman.
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