A History of Coffee BONUS: A History of Tea
Feb 15, 2022
Laszlo Montgomery, a producer passionate about Chinese history and culture, shares a captivating exploration of tea's ancient roots and its colonial journey. He delves into tea’s medicinal reputation in Europe and contrasts its cultural significance with coffee. The conversation highlights key figures in the trade, like Dutch and Portuguese merchants, while also discussing the evolution of tea production. Montgomery even introduces the intriguing origins of Bohi tea, showcasing how necessity leads to innovation in the tea trade.
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Tea Mirrors China’s Long History
- Tea history is deeply intertwined with Chinese history and spans thousands of years compared to coffee's recent past.
- Laszlo Montgomery frames tea as a cultural thread running through China's entire civilization.
Early European Account Praises Tea’s Medicinal Power
- John Battista Ramusio recorded a Persian's description of Chinese tea's medicinal uses in 1559.
- The Persian claimed tea cured fever, headaches, stomach ailments and was so prized people would trade a sack of rhubarb for an ounce.
Jesuit Observations Of Chinese Tea Rituals
- Jesuits like Matteo Ricci encountered and documented tea when they arrived in China in the late 16th century.
- Ricci described Chinese tea-drinking rituals, prices, and distinct Japanese powdered tea practice versus Chinese leaf decoctions.
