HISTORY OF TEA

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 September 1938, Page 5

HISTORY OF TEA

A THRILLING TALE The history of tea is a romantic story, which began many centuries ago in ancient China. According to legend, tea. first became known among the Chinese in the year 2737 B.C. Tea was practically unknown in Europe before 1600. In very small quantities it is known to have reached England in the later part of that century, brought as a. curiosity by travellers from the Far East. In the year 165 S the sale of tea was first advertised and Pepys records “have sent for a. cup of tea” in 1659. Some years later a. ceremonial gift of tea was presented to Charles 11. After the year 1700, however, tea began to come into its own in England. The coffee houses of the period especially encouraged ten drinking. Moreover, tea by this time was gradually assuming a place of importance in the well-to-do homo. It. became the fashion to serve it. during the evening and even at breakfast instead of the customary beer. Unfortunately for the tea trade, the British Government of the day saw in tea. a valuable source of revenue and imposed a heavy tax. Yet this severe taxation ultimately had the effect, of increasing rather than diminishing the country's consumption of tea. To avoid the duty, tea was smuggled into England. And tea smuggled through France and Holland was cheap—- so cheap that more people than ever before could afford it. SMUGGLERS TOOK RISKS The smugglers took desperate risks, for the penalty, if they fell into the hands of the excise officials was death. On moonless nights, under cover of impenetrable darkness, or on stormy nights, when the sound of oars would be drowned by the lashing of the gale, the precious chests were landed in small boats from the waiting ships on some remote and desolate foreshore. Thence they would be carried to a safe hiding place, often a cave. a. secret refuge among sandhills, or the cellars of a. deserted house, until they could be conveyed away by horsemen who rode armed and by night. Many hiding places of the smugglers are still to be seen, especially along the rocky coast of Dorset. Devon and Cornwall. The smugglers had the sympathies of the country with them. So successful were their operations that the legitimate lea trade was almost ruined. The silnalion became so grave that the Communication Act of 1754 was passed, which remitted the heavy duty. The price of tea fell by nearly 3/- petpound and smuggling came to an end.

Ry about the year ISSO the demand for tea was so great that there was fierce competition over bringing homo the new season’s teas. Ships built fbr speed —the famous tea clippers—were used for the first time and there were many thrilling races between them.