Tea is the most popular beverage in the world. In fact, many people enjoy several cups a day, but how much is actually known about the drink?
Phil Holman owns his own tea shop in Halifax and gives talks on the trade history of the beverage. He says, at one point, tea was worth more than silver and consumed mainly in the afternoon by aristocrats.
“Tea became a very expensive commodity during the 1800s and that links to piracy because the pirates would seek it on the open sea,” says Holman.
Tea’s ancient roots come from China, but there is a strong connection to Britain and then to the Americas in the 1800s. The drink eventually become available in every corner of the world and therefore became more affordable.
“The British had a lot to do with that,” says Holman. “They took tea cultivation from China and started cultivating it in India, after they stopped growing opium for the Chinese, then brought it down to Africa and the ultimate tea growing environment spread.”
Raman Parkash is a reformed coffee drinker. He took up tea drinking about three months ago. The more he learns about the drink, the more he likes it.
“Just trying different types, there is a huge difference between the green teas and the black teas. So far I've been liking it and haven't had any coffee since,” says Parkash.
Holman says he loves teaching people about his favourite beverage, whether it is about where it came from, or how to make it.
“It's as simple as you make it or as complicated as you make it,” says Holman.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kelland Sundahl
