TEA
Week 1 was spent learning about tea. Before learning anything historical or relevant about tea we had to rummage into our previous knowledge of tea. While drinking a cup of tea I was to write down every word that came to my mind. Anything associated with tea, tea drinking, tea production and the like were to then be included in a word cloud. I chose to shape my word cloud into a vintage tea pot, because it is the old fashioned tea I love - tea poured into dainty and decorated cups with saucers.
My chosen words included: cozy, peppermint, scones, kettle, iced, remedy, steeping, tea leaves, sugar, green, teabag, sip, comfort, chai, Downton Abbey, etiquette, southern, Earl Grey, high tea, Lipton, cuppa, herbal, camomille, black tea, happiness, relax, proper, winter, warmth, teacup, tea party, creamer, hot, medicinal, tea set, Britain, England, and saucer.
My chosen words included: cozy, peppermint, scones, kettle, iced, remedy, steeping, tea leaves, sugar, green, teabag, sip, comfort, chai, Downton Abbey, etiquette, southern, Earl Grey, high tea, Lipton, cuppa, herbal, camomille, black tea, happiness, relax, proper, winter, warmth, teacup, tea party, creamer, hot, medicinal, tea set, Britain, England, and saucer.
We were then asked to reflect on our word cloud we created. My word cloud as you can tell reflects feelings and products associated with tea and less on the history of tea. I included flavors of tea (mostly my favorites) - Earl Grey, black, green, chai, jasmine, and peppermint. Our tea lecture taught me that all different tea flavors actually come from the same type of plant and are then just flavored. Who would have guessed?! My word cloud also contains feelings that tea can create - cozy, dainty, proper, relax, and happiness. As we learned in class these same feelings date back to the very discovery of tea. Zen Buddhist monks found tea relaxing, the upper class English saw it as proper, and those attracted to its addictive properties found happiness.
Tea a beverage now consumed during late night study sessions, tea parties of imaginative little girls, drowsy-hard-hitting cold season, and in times of desperate relaxation. It's hard to believe something so common to us now, was so uncommon before. Tea was originally a drink stuck only in China - a country practicing isolationism. The beverage was used for its medicinal, and tranquil effects in many religious practices. By the 12th century as tea moved into Japan it's association with religious practices only grew, particularly with Zen Buddhism. Tea didn't reach the great population of Britain until the 17th century. 17th century Britain recognized tea for its many medicinal properties. As Britain realized the impact tea would have on current and future societies, they also realized they needed to gain control over the made-popular-in-China beverage. It was the British people who introduced tea to India, and established the East India Company. The East India Company was established as a British joint-stock company with the purpose of controlling the trade of many popular commodities with East India. The tea controlled by the EIC, Britain, China, and Japan did have a great influence on history. Tea caused wars - specifically the Opium Wars. It caused a major revolt against taxes - the Boston Tea Party. It's easy to realize the once highly controlled commodity has evolved into a household staple. Whether it be iced, hot, peppermint, tea bags, or loose leaves...tea can be found in every country, and almost every home across the world.
1. 2737 B.C.E. Tea is discovered in China by Shen Nung who had leaves fall in his water - the first cup of tea.
2. During the 12th century Japan began to associate tea with their practices of Zen Buddhism.
3. During the 1650's tea moved into Europe, and became a common drink in Britain. The first coffee house is established in London in 1652.
4. East India Company is established in 1600.
5. Americans protested the East India Company and their taxes on tea. The Tea Act was passed in 1773 limiting taxes on their tea. Still not satisfied the infamous Boston Tea Party takes place December of 1773.
2. During the 12th century Japan began to associate tea with their practices of Zen Buddhism.
3. During the 1650's tea moved into Europe, and became a common drink in Britain. The first coffee house is established in London in 1652.
4. East India Company is established in 1600.
5. Americans protested the East India Company and their taxes on tea. The Tea Act was passed in 1773 limiting taxes on their tea. Still not satisfied the infamous Boston Tea Party takes place December of 1773.