Lecture: The History of Tea

Today I'd like to look at how tea became one of the world's most popular drinks. Tea was originally consumed in China, where it was valued primarily as a medicine. By the eighth century, it had become an important part of everyday social life. Traders later carried it along overland routes into Central Asia and beyond. European merchants began importing tea in significant quantities in the seventeenth century. Initially, it was so expensive that only wealthy households could afford it. As prices fell, tea gradually became a staple of working-class diets as well. Next week, we'll consider the environmental impact of large-scale tea plantations.