Tea is probably regarded as the quintessential English drink, perhaps even eclipsing ale. Now associated with high teas, Jane Austen, and tea dances, at one time it was most popular amongst the lower classes. Indeed, as the so-called 'coffee culture' increasingly takes precedence and tea drinkers are increasingly regarded as strange phenomena drinking tea may soon be regarded as 'working class'.
The custom of drinking tea reached England late. It was first imported to Europe in the 16th century brought by the Portugese and Dutch traders. Even the Americans drank tea before the British who began drinking it in the 17th century. The enterprising Elizabeth 1 founded the John Company to promote Asian trade and the company began importing tea into England.
Coffee Shops
Coffee shops also originated in the 17th century and coffee was extremely popular. Only men could frequent these places, however, which were enjoyed for their business activities and excellent conversation. Thomas Garway, a coffee shop owner in London,began providing tea in his coffee shop in London, advertising it as medicinal. One advertisement claimed that tea had the effect of 'making the body active and lusty'. (I doubt that anyone would think that now when it's generally regarded as relaxing!) Even though it was very expensive tea became very popular. Sales of ale and gin declined and tea became the 'favoured drink of the lower classes'.
Charles II
However, Charles II and his Portugese wife, Catherine of Braganza loved to drink tea and knew how to make it properly. King Charles had grown up at the Hague where tea had been a popular drink for a long time. Their influence made tea more popular amongst the wealthier classes of society. Catherine also helped by providing England with the colonies of Tangier and Bombay, leading to an increase in the trade of tea.
The first tea shop opened in London in 1717 but tea shops didn't become popular until the late 19th century when women liked to have somewhere in which to gossip and chat without losing their reputation.
As tea was so expensive it was often locked in a tea caddy in private houses. The lady of the house was the only one with the key!
The decline in the sales of gin and ale annoyed the government because it received less revenue from taxes on these commodities so tea was very heavily taxed. This led to tea smuggling from Holland and Scandinavia which caused such trouble that the tax was reduced.
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