Anthony

Of historical note, tea is nearly 5,000 years old and was discovered, as legend has it, in 2737 b.c. by a Chinese emperor when some tea leaves accidentally blew into a pot of boiling water. In the 1600s tea became popular throughout Europe and the American colonies. Since colonial days, tea has played a role in American culture and customs. Today American schoolchildren learn about the famous Boston Tea Party protesting the British tea tax -- one of the acts leading to the Revolutionary War. During this century, two major American contributions to the tea industry occurred. In 1904, iced tea was created at the World's Fair in St. Louis, and in 1908, Thomas Sullivan of New York developed the concept of tea in a bag.

Tea breaks down into three basic types: black, green and oolong. In the U.S., over 90 percent of the tea consumed is black tea, which has been fully oxidized or fermented and yields a hearty-flavored, amber brew. Some of the popular black teas include English Breakfast (good breakfast choice since its hearty flavor mixes well with milk), Darjeeling (a blend of Himalayan teas with a flowery bouquet suited for lunch) and Orange Pekoe (a blend of Ceylon teas that is the most widely used of the tea blends).

Green tea skips the oxidizing step. It has a more delicate taste and is light green/golden in color. Green tea, a staple in the Orient, is gaining popularity in the U.S. due in part to recent scientific studies linking green tea drinking with reduced cancer risk.

Oolong tea, popular in China, is partly oxidized and is a cross between black and green tea in color and taste.

While flavored teas evolve from these three basic teas, herbal teas contain no true tea leaves. Herbal and "medicinal" teas are created from the flowers, berries, peels, seeds, leaves and roots of many different plants.

Researchers are also looking at how tea may be able to reduce the risk of cancer, control blood pressure, fight viruses in your body and help you live longer! Your body produces chemicals called Free Radicals. They can damage your body and your health. Tea contains antioxidants called flavonoids. Scientists believe these help to protect your body.

Tea house, as a part of tea culture, has been very popular since the end of Ming Dynasty in China, and it has served the tea drinkers with all kinds of tea products and tea wares. Drama and Small Play could also be observed in tea houses since hundreds years ago. Different from restaurants, tea houses do not serve regular meals. However, they do serve chinese appetizer-like snacks such as dried fruits (e.g.: dried dates), dried cooked meats (e.g.: dried diced curry beef), dried flavored bean products (e.g.: dried and flavored bean curd, and etc), and desserts such as baked rice cakes. People chat, sing, and get relaxed in the tea house while the waiters carrying giant metal, clay, or porcelain tea cattles to serve tea. The stage play "Tea House", written by Lao She, who committed suicide during Chinese Culture Revolution, has been the most famous drama detailing every aspects of the tea house culture in daily life in Qing Dynasty.

The Tao of Tea teahouse was started in southeast Portland. Oregon is a place where rain, mist, forests, mossy knolls, waterfalls and mountains make it an ideal place for enjoying tea. The climate in some areas of the state is among the most suitable places in the U.S. for growing tea.

The design of the teahouse evolved as it was being built. The artisans building this teahouse relied upon the materials to show them "the way." Similar to solving a jigsaw puzzle, selected materials were utilized in their original form. These materials included old wood from a Victorian house, black bamboo from a local grove, rocks to create waterfalls and benches from the Columbia River Gorge. Indian silk cushions and some copper tabletops add to the rich yet rustic feel. There is a "flow and harmony" of the materials as they are utilized in the teahouse.

There are two separate rooms to our retail location- the teahouse and leaf room. The teahouse is a warm place with stone chairs and a small waterfall surrounded by bamboo, weathered tables, chairs and shelves. Teaware and pots from different countries and for different steeping purposes are tucked away on shelves and nooks. Steam rises out of kettles and porcelain rings, and tea is served. Behind a lattice work of tea jars and metal caddies an international selection of foods, just as varied as the tea selection, are prepared to compliment the teas. At the teahouse, one can try one of over 120 fine loose-leaf teas and enjoy seasonal tea inspired dishes. Some days it is a quiet place of sipping and solitude and at other times a lively center of local life.

On May 10, 1773, the British parliament authorized the East India Co., which faced bankruptcy due to corruption and mismanagement, to export a half a million pounds of tea to the American colonies for the purpose of selling it

without imposing upon the company the usual duties and tariffs. With these privileges, the company could undersell American merchants and monopolize the colonial tea trade. Not only did this action create an unfair commerce to the merchants of the colonies but it proved to be the spark that revived American passions about the issue of taxation without representation. To fully understand the resentment of the colonies to Great Britain and King George III, one must understand that this was not the first time that the colonists were treated unfairly. In previous years, the 13 colonies saw a number of commercial tariffs including the Sugar Act of 1764, which taxed sugar, coffee, and wine, the Stamp Act of 1765, which put a tax on all printed matter, such as newspapers and playing cards, and the Townshend Acts of 1767 which placed taxes on items like glass, paints, paper, and tea. The Tea Act of 1773 was the last straw.

On November 27, 1773, three ships from the East India Co., named the Dartmouth, Eleanor and the Beaver, loaded with tea landed at Boston and were prevented from unloading their cargo. Fearing that the tea would be seized for failure to pay customs duties, and eventually become available for sale, something had to be done. Demanding that the tea be returned to where it came from or face retribution, the Sons of Liberty, led by Samuel Adams began to meet to determine the fate of the three cargo ships in the Boston harbor.

On the cold evening of December 16, 1773, a large band of patriots, disguised as Mohawk Indians, burst from the South Meeting House with the spirit of freedom burning in their eyes. The patriots headed towards Griffin's Wharf and the three ships. Quickly, quietly, and in an orderly manner, the Sons of Liberty boarded each of the tea ships. Once on board, the patriots went to work striking the chests with axes and hatchets. Thousands of spectators watched in silence. Only the sounds of ax blades splitting wood rang out from Boston Harbor. Once the crates are open, the patriots dumped the tea into the sea.

The silence was broken only by the cry of "East Indian" as patriots caught Charles O'Conner filling the lining of his coat with tea. George Hewes removed O'Connor's coat, threatened him with death if he revealed the identity of any man present, and sent him scurrying out of town. The patriots work feverishly, fearing an attack by Admiral Montague at any moment. By nine o'clock p.m., the Sons of Liberty had emptied a total of 342 crates of tea into Boston Harbor. Fearing any connection to their treasonous deed, the patriots took off their shoes and shook them overboard. They swept the ships' decks, and made each ship's first mate attest that only the tea was damaged.

When all was through, Lendall Pitts led the patriots from the wharf, tomahawks and axes resting on their shoulders. A fife played as they marched past the home where British Admiral Montague had been spying on their work. Montague yelled as they past, "Well boys, you have had a fine, pleasant evening for your Indian caper, haven't you? But mind, you have got to pay the fiddler yet!"

Montague's words were to be an omen for the patriots. The party was indeed over for Boston.

Tea Company	Types of Tea	Gifts and Accessories	Something Unique
The Tao of Tea - Portland, Oregon	Black Tea	Yes	World Tea Club
Stash Tea - Tigard, Oregon	Oolong Tea	Yes	Organic Tea
Imperial Tea Court - San Francisco	Green Tea	Yes	Tea Music and Books
Barrows Tea Company - New Bedford, Massachusetts	Organic Green Tea	No	Recipes