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Tea and America
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As we all know, tea played a central role in what is now the United States of America. It was a major political decision concerning the tea trade that finally tipped the balance and ignited a revolt against the British.

Tea gardens were opened firstly in New York City, a Dutch owned and controlled colony. But it was not until 1670 that the English colonists in Boston were made aware of the hugely popular beverage. It took a further 20 years for tea to become a publicly traded commodity. The new Tea Gardens were developed around the natural springs that were fitted with pumps to allow for the mounting interest in tea. Roosevelt and Chatham were the locations of the most famous of the Boston tea springs.

It was not until the year 1720 that tea was a regularly traded item between the American colonists and England. This trade was focused around the cities of Boston, Philadelphia and New York - all cities that would later be the instigators of the rebellion. Tea was heavily taxed and as a result a lucrative black market grew. Smugglers imported tea illegally, a practice that would draw the ire of the companies who imported tea legitimately and paid the tax for it. Soon the smuggling situation became so serious and widespread that the profits of the 'official' importers had plummeted, forcing them to approach Parliament to enforce the law.

The American Revolution

England's war against France and India had been completed after being fought in order to try and stabilize trade between their colonies and the English homeland. Wars don't come cheap, so the Parliament saw it fair to place the cost of their war at the feet of the colonists as the war was for their benefit. Taxes rose on newspapers, marriage licenses, docking papers, legal documents leading to growing dissent from the tax laden colonists. Then, due to their outspoken rebellion against the higher taxation, Parliament introduced new high taxes on various products, including tea. Introducing a higher rate of taxation on tea tipped the balance of opinion towards liberty and encouraged the spirit of independence and nationalism sweeping across America.

As a symbol of their frustration and anger at the new taxes on their lives the colonist began to purchase imported tea from the Dutch. English tea importers, such as the John Company, watched on in dismay as their revenue and profits fell through the floor. The situation for the John Company got so bad that they were pleading their case with the British government in search of support. Finally, they merged with the East India Company in order to stop the rot and gain some sense of stability.

In response to the pressure from the John Company, Lord North, the British Treasurer, granted the newly merged company permission to sell directly to the colonists. The problem with this was that they cut out the middleman, the colonial tea merchants. The idea was that the "tea crazed" women of America would drive consumption, but this was fatally flawed. Instead the women, loyal to their heavily taxed husbands, pledged to boycott tea sold by the East India Company until the taxes were reduced and the rights of their husbands were afforded.

The Boston Tea Party

The situation deteriorated to the point that the men of Boston, dressed as Indians, threw hundreds of pounds worth of heavily imported tea into the harbour. This was a step too far for the British who retaliated by closing the port and deploying their troops in an occupation of Boston City. The leaders of the disgruntled colonials, men such as Samuel Adams and John Hancock, met and declared a revolution against the British. This was the birth of America as we know it.

America and Tea: After the Revolution

America began trading with the Chinese after the revolution had been completed in 1789. With their newer, faster and light clippers, the Americans were able to beat the slower and heavier English ships. This broke the cartel that England had with the tea trade in China.

One noted tea trader was Thomas Perkins, a man of his word. He was so trusted by the Chinese that he frequently carried out massive transactions half way around the world without a single piece of paper. Other American tea merchants, such as Stephen Girard, were known for their generosity and gentle nature. It was his kind natured loans that kept the young American government afloat.

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