Story Of Tea

The Story of Tea traces the history, myths and rituals of growing and drinking Tea from the Tea gardens of China, to the roadside dhabas of India. Thomas Garraway's first public sale of Tea in England, in 1657 was of historic importance. For this, he published and distributed a poster - "The leaf is of such known virutes, that it is sold for twice its weight in Silver. It maketh the body active and lusty. It helpeth the headache, giddiness and heaviness thereof. It is very good against stone and gravel, cleaning the Kidneys and Ureter. It is good against crudities, strengthening the weakness of the Ventricle or Stomach causing good appetite and digestion and particularly for men of a corpulent body and such as are great eaters of flesh. It prevents and cures ague, surfeits and fevers, by infusing a fit quantity of the leaf, thereby provoking a most gentle vomit. It drives away all pains in the Collick proceeding from wind and purgeth safely the Gall." So said Thomas Garraway and, indeed, many believed him.