History

 

Tea's popularity as a wholesome, invigorating drink first spread throughout China and Japan. The first book on tea, Ch'a Ching, was written by the Chinese author Lu Yu in the eighth century. A definitive, poetic manual that covers the cultivation and production of tea, it is credited with helping tea become China's national drink long before it was ever tasted in the West.

The story of tea is as old as nature itself; we have been drinking tea on these shores for over 350 years. But, it took an exciting turn in the year 1837, when the Tetley brothers went into business in Yorkshire, England. This is the brief history of tea, Tetley and the tea bag.

2737
2737 BC

The Chinese Emperor Shen Nung is sitting under a large tea plant (Camellia sinensis) while his servant boils drinking water. Some leaves from the tree blow into the water, an accidental infusion takes place, and the cup of tea is born. Well, that’s the legend, anyway!

600
600 AD

By now, tea is the national drink of China. It's manufactured in a brick form: the tea leaves are pounded and pressed into a brick-shaped mold and then dried.

1600
Early 1600s

In the 1600s, the British East India Company had a monopoly on importing goods from outside Europe. Tea’s popularity was spread by sailors bringing home tea as gifts.

1660
1660

Unknown in Britain, Chinese tea is brought over by sailors and first served up in London’s coffee houses.

1662
1662

Portuguese princess (and tea addict), Catherine of Braganza, marries King Charles II and soon establishes tea as a fashionable drink for the very wealthy. Tea was regarded and traded as an expensive commodity for the affluent.

1662
1664

The East India Company places its first order for tea to be imported into Britain.

1700
Early 1700s

Britain is now obsessed with tea, but taxes put it out of reach. 5 million lbs of tea is sold legally – but 7 million lbs is smuggled.

1662
1750

By this point, tea is the favored drink of Britain’s lower classes, in spite of the huge taxes it carries. These taxes are reduced in the middle of the 19th century.

1773
1773

The Boston Tea Party: when British ships arrive in Boston, a band of men board the ships, split open its cargo of 342 chests and throw the lot into the sea. It was a protest over the British taxes.

1834
1834

The famous clipper races begin in China and go down the China Sea, across the Indian Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope, up the Atlantic, past the Azores, and into the English Channel. The clippers are then towed up the River Thames by tugs, and the first ship to throw its cargo onto the docks is the winner.

1837
1837

Joseph and Edward Tetley start to sell salt in Yorkshire, England. In time, they add tea to their repertoire. Good move.

1856
1856

The Tetley brothers move to Cullum Street, London, just yards from the tea auction rooms. They eventually part ways, and Joseph unveils the newly named “Joseph Tetley & Co., Wholesale Tea Dealers”.

1662
1871

Tetley took his son Joseph "Junior" into partnership. Business flourished, and the company extended its services to include blending and packing.

1662
1888

The company was ready to take its next major step-an agreement with American agents to distribute Tetley's teas throughout the United States.

1904
1904

At the St. Louis World’s Fair of 1904, a heat wave leads tea planter Richard Blechynden to add ice to his tea. It causes a sensation, and iced tea is born.

1908
1908

A happy accident. New York tea merchant, Thomas Sullivan, sent samples of tea to customers in small silken bags, which people wrongly assumed were supposed to be placed into tea pots, rather than emptying out the contents. Consequently, the much-loved tea bag was born!

1939
1939

Tetley’s British representative, TI Tetley- Jones, goes to America and brings back the idea of the tea bag.

1940
1940

In 1940, the first Tetley tea bag machines, known as the “Grey Ladies”, stitch 40 tea bags a minute for export.

1953
1953

To great public joy, World War Two tea rationing is finally lifted, and the foundations are laid for Tetley to bring the tea bag to the UK market for the first time.

1662
1957

Tetley introduces the Drawstring tea which was designed to help give the same great taste as our original tea bag, just without the mess.

1968
1968

By now, Tetley tea bag sales have soared to 5,000 tons a year.

1990
1990

An Elvis-inspired Gaffer celebrates the launch of the Round Bag. By 2004, the Tetley range of teas has grown to offer fruit and herbal infusions, green teas, and specialty blends… and we’re still updating and innovating today.

2004
2004

A delicious blend of Asian and African green tea leaves, sourced from high altitude plantations, gives Tetley’s Pure Green its smooth, mellow taste.

1662
2007

Carefully sourced from the Cedarberg region of South Africa and perfect for our caffeine-free tea lovers, Tetley launched Pure Redbush.

2010
2010

Every week, Tetley buys one million kilos of tea for making countless cups of Tetley tea that the world enjoys every day.

1662
2014

Tetley launched the Innovative Super Tea range, with added vitamins to help support immune systems or to help reduce tiredness and fatigue.

1662
2015

Tetley unveiled a brand refresh with a new logo across all products and communications.

1662
2016

Gordon Bruce (@gordonbruceart) shared a “brewtiful” piece of art featuring the Tetley van.

2737 BC
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