Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 253, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1913 — History of Tea. [ARTICLE]

History of Tea.

The earliest record of tea being mentioned by an Englishman was probably that contained in a letter from Mr. Wickham, an agent of the East India company, written from Firando, in Japan, on June 27, 1615, to another officer of the company, resident at Macao, in the south of China, asking him for "a pot of the best sort of chaw.” It was not until the middle of that century that the English began to ÜBe tea. They received their supplies from Java until 1686, when they were driven out by the Dutch, says the Bulletin 0 f the Imperial Institute. At first the price in England ranged from £6 to £lO per pound. In the Mercurius Politicus of September, 1068, occurs an advertisement of the “China’ drink called by the Chlneans Tcha, by other nations fay, alias Tee,” being sold in London. Thomas Oarway, the first English tea dealer. In 16839 or 1660, offered it at prices varying from 15s to 50s per pound. Not until 1677 is there a record of the Bast India company having taken any steps for its importation.