Podcast Summary: "The History of Tea (Encore)" – Everything Everywhere Daily

Release Date: December 2, 2024

Host: Gary Arndt
Executive Producer: Charles Daniel
Associate Producers: Benji Long and Cameron Kiefer

1. Introduction to the History of Tea

In this encore episode of Everything Everywhere Daily, Gary Arndt delves deep into the rich and intricate history of tea, tracing its origins, cultural significance, and its evolution into the global phenomenon it is today. Skipping past the initial advertisements, Gary immediately immerses listeners into the ancient beginnings of tea consumption.

2. Origins of Tea in China

Ancient Beginnings:
Gary begins by exploring the enigmatic origins of tea, highlighting that while the exact moment of its discovery remains unknown, the earliest indications point to Yunnan Province in southwestern China around 3,000 to 3,500 years ago.

“The origins of tea are shrouded in history, we don't know who first discovered that the tea leaf could be used to make a beverage.” (02:36)

Legend of Emperor Shen Nong:
Gary recounts the legendary tale of Emperor Shen Nong, a mythological ruler who is said to have discovered tea by accident when a tea leaf fell into his boiling water decree.

“Emperor Shen Nong was about to drink a cup of boiled water… a leaf from a bush landed in the water… the emperor tasted the water and found that it not only tastes good, but was invigorating.” (02:36–02:56)

Archaeological Evidence:
The oldest archaeological evidence of tea consumption dates back to 141 BC in the tomb of Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty, where biomolecular markers of tea were discovered.

“Unambiguous references in Chinese texts indicate tea drinking in the year 59 BC but other texts make allusions to tea drinking going back much earlier.” (03:30)

Botanical Insights:
Gary clarifies that true tea comes exclusively from the Camellia sinensis plant, a shrub native to regions bordering northern Myanmar and southwestern China. He explains the plant’s growth preferences, emphasizing its affinity for higher elevations with ample sunlight, warm temperatures, and plenty of rainfall.

“Camellia sinensis would be considered a shrub or a bush and not a full blown tree… the plant can grow in a wide variety of areas where there is ample sunlight, warm temperatures and plenty of rainfall.” (04:10)

3. Spread of Tea Culture in East Asia

Tang Dynasty Popularization:
Tea drinking was predominantly a southern Chinese practice until the Tang Dynasty (8th century), when it became widespread across all social strata. Gary references Lu Yu’s Shah Jing (Tea Classic), the earliest known comprehensive work on tea, detailing its preparation, cultivation, and cultural practices.

“The Tang Dynasty writer Lu Yu wrote the book Sha Jing, which translates into the Tea Classic, which is the earliest known work about the subject of tea.” (05:00)

Tea Production Techniques:
During the Tang Dynasty, tea was commonly produced as tea bricks, compressed blocks that served both as a convenient form for currency and ease of transportation.

“Tea bricks were a common form of currency throughout China at this time, and they were easier to transport than loose tea leaves were.” (05:45)

Song Dynasty Innovations:
The Song Dynasty saw a shift towards powdered tea, which involved roasting and crushing tea leaves into a fine powder, marking a significant change in tea preparation methods.

“During the Song dynasty, tea consumption changed as powder tea became popularized.” (06:15)

4. Tea’s Expansion to Japan and Korea

Introduction to Japan:
Tea was introduced to Japan in the 7th century by Buddhist monks, initially consumed solely by religious practitioners before gaining popularity among the upper class.

“Tea was believed to have been brought to Japan in the 7th century by Buddhist monks, and the earliest evidence of tea in Korea was in the 7th century as well.” (07:00)

Japanese Tea Ceremonies:
By the 15th century, elaborate tea ceremonies – heavily influenced by Sen no Rikyu – became an integral part of Japanese diplomacy and political life, fostering unity and cultural refinement.

“The founder of the Japanese tea ceremony is considered to be Sen no Rikyu, and the tea ceremony served a central role in diplomacy and political life.” (08:20)

5. Tea’s Introduction to Europe and Its Rise in England

Early European Encounters:
Despite mentions by Marco Polo in the 13th century, tea remained largely confined to East Asia until the 16th century when European traders, particularly the Portuguese, began importing it.

“Marco Polo mentioned tea in his writings in the 13th century, the first European to mention tea.” (09:10)

Tea’s Popularity in England:
England's embracement of tea is attributed to Catherine of Braganza, the wife of King Charles II, in 1662. Initially a luxury for royalty, tea rapidly gained popularity among the British populace.

“The popularity of tea in England is credited to the wife of King Charles II, Catherine of Braganza from Portugal in 1662.” (10:05)

British East India Company’s Role:
The British East India Company played a pivotal role in importing tea from China, leading to a dramatic increase in tea consumption in Britain by the 18th century.

“By 1801, the amount of tea imported into Britain had reached 24 million pounds annually, a 12 million fold jump in imports over a period of 139 years.” (11:15)

6. Tea and Global Trade: Opium Wars and British Colonization

Trade Imbalance:
The Chinese monopoly on tea creation a significant trade deficit for Britain, as China showed little interest in Western goods, prompting Britain to reverse the trade imbalance.

“The Chinese monopoly on tea and the lack of desire by the Chinese for the importation of many Western products produced a huge trade deficit between Britain and China.” (12:00)

Opium and the First Opium War:
To address the deficit, Britain started exporting opium to China, culminating in the First Opium War in 1839, which eventually forced China to open its markets.

“Britain began importing opium to China which resulted in the First Opium War which began in 1839.” (12:45)

Cultivation Outside China:
Seeking to break China's monopoly, Britain initiated tea cultivation in Northern India, which eventually made India the world's largest tea producer. Additionally, tea cultivation spread to Sri Lanka and Kenya within British colonies.

“Britain began cultivating tea in Northern India... The biggest tea producing regions outside of India were in Sri Lanka and Kenya.” (13:30)

7. Cultivation and Production Outside China

Global Expansion of Tea Production:
Tea cultivation was strategically established in British colonies where the climate was conducive, ensuring a steady supply independent of Chinese markets.

“The British also brought tea production to other colonies they held around the world which were suitable for growing it.” (14:10)

India’s Tea Industry:
Though India became a major producer, tea consumption among Indians remained low until post-independence efforts to promote domestic demand transformed tea into a staple beverage across the nation.

“Despite being one of the largest tea producers in the world, tea in India wasn't commonly consumed by Indians until after India became independent.” (15:00)

Tea in Muslim Countries:
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, tea gained immense popularity in the Muslim world, often surpassing coffee as the preferred non-alcoholic beverage. Today, half of the top ten countries for per capita tea consumption are predominantly Muslim nations, with Turkey leading the pack.

“Today, half of the top 10 countries in the world in terms of per capita tea consumption are predominantly Muslim countries. The biggest tea consuming country is Turkey.” (16:20)

8. Tea in the Americas

United States:
Post-American Revolution, tea consumption in the United States declined sharply due to its association with British colonialism and the infamous Boston Tea Party.

“In the Americas, tea consumption in the United States decreased dramatically after the revolution.” (17:00)

Canada and Brazil:
Conversely, Canada maintained high tea consumption levels due to its British heritage until the Second World War, when coffee began to dominate. Brazil, influenced by its Portuguese ties, emerged as the largest tea producer and consumer in South America.

“Brazil, due to its ties with Portugal, became the biggest tea consumer in South America and was its largest tea producer as well.” (17:45)

9. Modern Tea Industry

Current Production and Economic Impact:
Today, over 6 million metric tons of tea are produced annually, with China and India leading the production charts, followed by Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The global tea industry has burgeoned into a $100 billion enterprise.

“The global tea industry is now estimated to be close to $100 billion annually.” (18:30)

Diversification of Tea Consumption:
Tea's versatility has expanded beyond the traditional hot beverage, with iced tea and sweetened tea-based drinks becoming popular alternatives to soft drinks.

“Iced tea and other sweetened tea based drinks have become popular as soft drink alternatives.” (19:10)

10. Varieties of Tea and Their Production

True Teas vs. Herbal Teas:
Gary distinguishes between true teas and what are commonly mislabeled as teas. He emphasizes that herbal teas, such as chamomile, are not derived from the Camellia sinensis plant and thus aren't true teas.

“Anything called herbal tea really isn't a tea. It doesn't use tea leaves from a tea plant.” (20:05)

Processing and Oxidation:
The diversity of tea varieties stems from different processing methods and levels of oxidation:

• Green Tea: Minimally oxidized, preserving the green color.
• Yellow Tea: Leaves are allowed to yellow before consumption.
• White Tea: Wilted but mostly unoxidized.
• Oolong Tea: Partially oxidized.
• Black Tea: Fully oxidized, often crushed into powder.
• Dark Tea: Fermented through various processes.

“Green tea is made from minimally oxidized tea leaves… Oolong tea is where the leaves are wilted and partially oxidized.” (20:45)

Regional Influences:
Different regions impart unique flavors to tea due to varying environmental factors and cultivation practices, resulting in a vast array of tea types all originating from a single plant species.

“Each region where tea is grown will result in different flavors due to the inputs that went into its creation.” (21:30)

11. Conclusion

Gary wraps up the episode by reflecting on tea's monumental journey from a serendipitous discovery in ancient China to its status as the world's largest manufactured beverage. He marvels at how a simple leaf led to profound cultural, economic, and social transformations across civilizations.

“All of this began thousands of years ago because some person probably had a leaf accidentally fall into their pot of water.” (22:00)

Community and Support:
He acknowledges the support from the show's patrons on Patreon and invites listeners to join the Everything Everywhere Daily Facebook group or Discord server for further engagement.

“Your support helps me put out a show every single day… you can join the Everything Everywhere Daily Facebook group or Discord server.” (22:30)

Key Insights:

• Cultural Significance: Tea has played a pivotal role in diplomacy, social rituals, and daily life across various cultures.
• Economic Impact: From ancient currency to a $100 billion industry, tea's economic influence is immense.
• Global Spread: The spread of tea is intertwined with historical events like colonialism, trade wars, and cultural exchanges.
• Diversity Through Processing: The myriad of tea types is a testament to human ingenuity in cultivating and processing a single plant species into countless variants.

Notable Quotes:

• “Emperor Shen Nong was about to drink a cup of boiled water… a leaf from a bush landed in the water… the emperor tasted the water and found that it not only tastes good, but was invigorating.” – Gary Arndt (02:36–02:56)

• “The global tea industry is now estimated to be close to $100 billion annually.” – Gary Arndt (18:30)

• “All of this began thousands of years ago because some person probably had a leaf accidentally fall into their pot of water.” – Gary Arndt (22:00)

Conclusion:

Gary Arndt's comprehensive exploration of tea's history not only educates listeners about its origins and global spread but also highlights the profound impact this humble beverage has had on human civilization. From ancient legends to modern industry, tea remains a symbol of cultural exchange, economic prowess, and timeless tradition.