The 16th century marked a new turning point as tea transcended geographical boundaries in the Eastern Hemisphere. At this time, explorers from Europe, having ventured to the world beyond, brought back jasmine tea plants from China to Portugal for experimental cultivation. Naturally, the fragrance of jasmine tea quickly gained favor among the aristocracy of that era.
It was when Princess Catherine de Braganza married King Charles II and became the queen of the Kingdom of England that tea gained popularity within the English royal circles. From here, afternoon tea became an indispensable tradition in royal households.
Afternoon tea became an integral tradition in royal households.
The most significant impact was the opulent tea sets, intricately carved from rare and highly precious materials such as gold and silver, which only individuals of noble birth could possess.
Similar to how Chinese merchants promoted their tea, English merchants also began hosting tea parties in a simple format during trade with other nations. Just two decades later, tea had spread throughout Western and Northern Europe.
And after two centuries, tea grew even more popular and spread further with the development of the British Empire. Any territory under British rule would bear the mark of tea. Even today, the tradition of afternoon tea in England still retains many aspects of the aristocratic society of the past.
Most Westerners prefer efficiency. This era is the pinnacle of industry and modern development, characterized by disciplined work styles.
Thomas Sullivan inadvertently invented the tea bag.
One of the noteworthy events is the invention of the tea bag by New York businessman Thomas Sullivan. He sent samples of tea enclosed in silk bags to his customers. These customers placed both the tea and the bag into hot water. The unexpected result led to the birth of the tea bag.
The Western way of consuming tea is relatively simple and unpretentious, unlike the ceremonial approach of Japan or the performative nature of China. It merely requires a cup and a small tea bag to create a high-quality tea with various added flavors. In the Western context, tea has been streamlined, so the process of enjoying tea eliminates unnecessary formalities to create a closer connection to daily life.
The above is an article by Eastern culture researcher - Nguyen Huu Hong Ky, Chairman of Hong Ky Tea. We thank the Businessman Magazine for publishing this article on their platform.
