The Prevailing Myth of Black Tea
When envisioning the beverages that played a role in the American Revolution, many minds instinctively turn to black tea. However, historical accounts suggest that green tea held an equally prominent place in the cups of colonial Americans.
According to a leading tea historian, British subjects across the Atlantic, whether residing in Jane Austen's England or colonial Boston, commonly consumed both green and black tea. The expert, who serves as the tea master at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, noted that all five tea varieties involved in the historic 1773 protest against the Tea Act originated from China, then the sole global exporter of tea. Of these, two were green teas and three were black.
A Closer Look at the Tea Varieties
The specific types of tea famously cast into Boston Harbor included three black varieties: Bohea, Souchong, and Congou, alongside two green teas: Hyson and Singlo.
Bohea's Widespread Presence
Bohea, a black tea, stood out as the most common and least expensive option of its time. It was typically derived from older tea leaves, harvested after the season's premium-quality leaves had already been collected.
The majority of the tea discarded during the Boston Tea Party was Bohea, a variety so pervasive that the historian likened its ubiquity to how the brand name 'Kleenex' has become a generic term for tissues today. He recounted instances where teapots from that period were inscribed with 'Bohea' on their sides, and people would simply request 'a cup of Bohea' when desiring tea, underscoring its widespread acceptance.
Distinct Storage and Trade Practices
Colonial Americans not only differentiated between green and black teas but also employed distinct storage methods for them. Affluent individuals would possess elegantly crafted wooden tea caddies, designed with two separate compartments—one for green tea and one for black tea—and kept securely under lock and key.
Merchants often preferred black tea for its resilience during the arduous journey from China to Europe and subsequently to the American colonies. While green tea was the traditional beverage consumed in China and also exported, black tea proved more durable for long-distance shipping.
Patriotic Alternatives to British Brews
Even after many colonists pledged to abstain from British tea, the ritual of tea consumption persisted, albeit with patriotic alternatives. Numerous patriots brewed what they termed 'Liberty Teas,' concocted from locally sourced ingredients such as dried apples, blueberries, chamomile, and various garden herbs. This practice allowed them to maintain their cherished 'tea time' without inadvertently supporting the British government.
