Experience Tea Studio Tea! The World in Your Cup NOTABLE PEOPLE IN TEA HISTORY Notable People in Tea History: Introduction We love to drink tea and have grown accustomed to being able to buy it anywhere in our commu- nities and the world. How tea came to be so popular, plentiful and available was due to contribu- tions of some pretty interesting characters in history. Our historical tea characters will come from China, Japan, Portugal, and England and their efforts would impact the tea trade forever. Here are a few to get to know. Japan England Portugal China India Experience Tea Studio Tea! The World in Your Cup NOTABLE PEOPLE IN TEA HISTORY 1 Tea Masters of Old Step There are two very important people of tea history Sen no Rikyu was a learned and well-respected that we here in the west know very little about: Lu tea master in 16th century Japan, Yu and Sen no Rikyu. Both were significant in having studied under the most development of tea popularity and culture within influential tea teachers of his time. their own country and circle of influence as well as Tea and the ritual of making tea, leaving a tea legacy of enduring richness for the Chanoyu, was evolving from an world. opulent, formal, elitist presentation to a ceremony of simplicity, spiritual Lu Yu was a scholar who lived in China back in the harmony, inclusiveness and eighth century—a time in Chinese history known as equality for all walks of life. The the Tang Dynasty. He was an love of tea permeated all of orphan who grew up in a Japanese society. monastery, but instead of following his adopted father’s The military leaders of ancient Japan, the shogun, path of becoming a monk, he were very powerful and each had their own tea was always compelled to master to make tea for them. Rikyu was tea master study and write. As a youth, for two different shogun, with most of his later he was interested in growing and processing tea— years serving Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the man who wanting to know everything about making good unified Japan. Hideyoshi enjoyed both the opulent tea. Lu Yu wrote the first book about tea, called presentation as well as the simple, humble (wabi) The Classic of Tea or Cha Ching. presentation of tea, and participated with Rikyu in the experience of both. Rikyu was an influential Before Lu Yu’s efforts in compiling this book, part of Hideyoshi’s inner circle and the powerful methods of growing tea, as well as harvesting and shogun brought Rikyu with him to many important processing tea, were known by tea farmers who meetings and events. had learned through their for-bearers and neighbors. Methods and practices were passed Rikyu was compelled to continue developing the down orally. Tea was used mostly for medicinal Chanoyu tea ceremony toward very simple and purposes—enjoyment of tea for pleasure was just humble practice, advocating a very small, rustic tea beginning. Lu Yu recorded the important steps of hut, sparsely decorated, for participating in cultivation: how to carefully pluck the young leaves, Chanoyu. To reinforce the simplicity and equality of then how to process the leaves into the style of tea the spirit of tea, all guests, no matter the rank, had enjoyed at that time. The style of tea was very to enter the tea house (hut) by crawling through a different from the whole-leaf style we appreciate small door (which did not allow for swords or other today, but still important to people of this time- weapons). period. Unfortunately, the great tea master’s life did not Lu Yu’s efforts and success with this book led to end well: Hideyoshi in a fit of rage (no one is sure elevation of tea’s status in society. During his why), ordered Rikyu to commit ritual suicide. lifetime he witnessed its growth in demand and Rikyu is remembered as one of the great tea sages status in Chinese society—prompting numerous and Chanoyu as we know it today is considered his rituals, elaborate steeping tools and special tea most important contribution to tea. gatherings. Cha Ching was written over 1200 years ago and is still in print today. Experience Tea Studio Tea! The World in Your Cup NOTABLE PEOPLE IN TEA HISTORY 2 Tea Connects Queen and Country Step After years of political and social unrest, Having been raised with tea as part of daily Charles II was restored to the British throne life, Catherine brought with her chests of tea in the mid-1600s. He inherited many debts for her continued comfort. Although tea had and created new ones of his own. Britain permeated much of Europe in the first half of was broke. the 17th century, through Portuguese and What is a British monarch to do? As is often Dutch trade, it was still relatively new to the case in these situations, it was England. determined that King Charles II would marry Catherine would play a significant role in a foreign princess who would bring her popularizing tea within Charles’ court, marriage dowry to infuse the British Crown’s inviting others to join her for tea in order to treasury and cover its debts. gain favor. She did not speak very much, if Catherine of Braganza any, English and as a Catholic in an was a Portuguese Anglican country, Catherine was not readily princess who was chosen accepted by other members of the court. to become the wife of She used tea and its novelty to endear Charles II in 1662. This herself in royal circles. Although still rare strategic marriage would and expensive, tea was growing in help the Britain regain its popularity. status and ambitions in The British East India Company which had the world. been active in India for 60 years establishing Princess Catherine brought £500,000, and trading forts for transport of spices, cotton the port cities of Bombay (now Mumbai) in cloth and other goods, began in earnest to India and Tangiers in Morocco which would push out competitors and take over the tea also help propel British dominance in many trade with China. Tea was about to become parts of the new world. Bombay would much more plentiful to meet its growing become the headquarters of the East India demand in England. Company having curries favor with King Charles II. Experience Tea Studio Tea! The World in Your Cup NOTABLE PEOPLE IN TEA HISTORY 3 A Master of Disguise Changes Tea History Step In 1848, the British East India Company sent a transport he planted the spy on a trip to China's interior, an area young saplings in forbidden to foreigners. The “Wardian cases” which spy’s mission was to steal were miniature glass hot the secrets of tea houses. This was so horticulture and that the moisture given manufacturing from the off from the plants would center of the tea world at the be contained and act to time. Who was the spy? He nourish the plants until was Scottish botanist and they could reach plant hunter, Robert Fortune. destination and be properly cared for. Robert Fortune was Why send a spy? The British had developed a known as a plant hunter taste for tea, and all the tea in the world came who brought more than 120 species of plants to from China. Britons had to rely on tea traders western gardens. But he is perhaps best known who either crossed the treacherous Spice as the as the man who stole tea plants and the Routes or raced across the oceans on sleek secrets of tea-making from China. His efforts Clipper Ships around the Cape of Good Hope to helped establish India as one of the largest tea- bring tea to Britain. Either method required a producing countries in the world! long journey and made tea very expensive. The British East India Company hired Robert Fortune to disguise himself and travel into the interior of China’s most active areas of tea production and bring to India (a British colony) tea seeds, samplings and the ways of tea production. The British were keen to grow their own tea on lands controlled in India. Spying was no easy task! Robert Fortune did not look like a Chinese person, but by donning traditional clothes of a wealthy merchant, cutting his hair in the mandarin style, and bribing local smugglers and porters he was able to conceal his identity. Fortune experienced many mishaps on his mission, but eventually he did have success in gathering tea seeds and cuttings, but they still had a long trip to get to India. In preparation for The Culture and Preparation of Tea, China (1843), by English artist Thomas Allom. Experience Tea Studio Tea! The World in Your Cup NOTABLE PEOPLE IN TEA HISTORY 4 What’s in a name...OR what’s in this tea? Step The mention of British tea almost always makes subsequently sent him a black tea flavored with people think of Earl Grey tea. Why is this, what oil of bergamot. is it and who was this? Bergamot oil comes from the rind of a bergamot, Earl Grey tea is traditionally a black tea that is a type of Seville orange. The oil from the rind flavored with oil of a citrus called bergamot and it has an aroma similar to various mints in North is named for Charles Grey, America. The name of this new fruit, “Bergamot,” second Earl of Howick. Charles is an English word that first appeared in 1696 Grey was a member of after where it is said to have first grown, Parliament in the first part of the Bergamo in northern Italy.