TEA

Tea, or Camellia sinensis, is found all over the globe in various shapes and forms. In Japan, green tea is powdered and whisked and the suspended tea is consumed. Conversely, black tea is consumed with milk and sugar in Great Britain, Australia, and the United States, to mitigate the bitterness that develops from the processing. In the southern United States, sweet tea remains a regional speciality, with or without mint, while in India the tea leaves are boiled with sugar and milk.

It is not only the processing and consumption habits of tea that are different based on geographic location, but the very meaning of tea has changed over time and place. While typically symbolizing politeness, hospitality, and peace, because of tea's economic role, it can also symbolize imperialism, slave labor, and exploitation.

All tea comes from Camellia sinensis but the differences in processing results in very different final products. Black tea is oxidized while green tea is not, is just one of several differences that make up categories of tea that also includes white, Oolong, and puer.

Tea is the most well known English beverage, however it was introduced relatively late. Although the consumption of tea dates back to the third millennium BC in China, it wasn’t until the mid 17th century that the beverage first appeared in England. As the use of tea spread from Asia, it reached Europe by 1560. Due to Britain’s addiction towards tea, it caused a dependent relationship with China. As China desired opium (while the) Britain desired tea. It wasn’t until Britain took control over Assam where they began producing their own tea. As the demand for tea rose the production of tea required slaves. The popularity of tea also lead to advances in transportation and pottery.

Tea was introduced to America by colonists in the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam, present day New York in 1650. By 1720 tea was accepted as a staple of trade between America and Europe. Tea in the U.S. is commonly known through the southern regional favorite, sweet tea. This beverage is brewed, sweetened, and chilled to consume throughout the day as an alternative to other beverages. In the United States, tea is commonly served cold, or iced. Iced tea is usually prepared from bagged tea however loose leaf tea isn’t uncommon. Iced tea, similar to soda, can be found either canned or bottled all throughout the U.S. at vending machines and convenience stores. This pre-made tea is sweetened with corn syrup and sometimes flavoring, such as lemon or raspberry. The reason tea is pre sweetening is primarily because of the American palate. Iced tea's popularity in the United States has led to an addition to standard cutlery sets such as the iced tea spoon, a flatware teaspoon with a long handle, suitable for stirring sugar into taller glasses.

The oldest sweet tea recipe (ice tea) from a community cookbook called Housekeeping in Old Virginia, by Marion Cabell Tyree, published in 1879:

“Ice Tea. – After scalding the teapot, put into it one quart of boiling water and two teaspoonfuls green tea. If wanted for supper, do this at breakfast. At dinner time, strain, without stirring, through a tea strainer into a pitcher. Let it stand till tea time and pour into decanters, leaving the sediment in the bottom of the pitcher. Fill the goblets with ice, put two teaspoonfuls granulated sugar in each, and pour the tea over the ice and sugar. A squeeze of lemon will make this delicious and healthful, as it will correct the astringent tendency.”

Americans prefered ice tea as they would sweeten or flavor the beverage this is supported through this quote about how to make iced tea