“Sometimes all we need is tea, a pat and a tight hug.” The author of this sentence is unknown, but the wishes expressed in the quote may be the same as those of many people. That’s because, nobody resists the caresses and caresses, as for tea this is already the third most consumed beverage in the world, behind coffee and water.Tasty and very nutritious, teas are gaining more and more space around the world, especially where they originated, that is, in China. However, perhaps it is its easy preparation that makes this drink stand out. In addition to being made through the boiling process, teas can be made by infusion, when bags are placed directly in boiling water and in a few minutes the drink is ready to be consumed. But where did this option arise? To find out, it is necessary to take a little trip back in time about this ancient drink.

A brief history of teas

There are thousands of stories regarding the emergence of teas, but the most popular is that this drink would have originated accidentally. According to Chinese legends, in the year 2737 BC, some leaves would have fallen into a pot of hot water. Thus, Emperor Shennong would have discovered how to prepare this drink.

After the great success in China, tea was consumed all over Asia. Then, after the various navigations between the United Kingdom and the East, the traditions were passed on to the English. These, in turn, even have an exclusive time to enjoy this drink, that is, at 5 pm. But it was only in the 19th century that tea won the world and could be tasted by different languages ​​languagesand tastes.

Bag tea: how did it come about?

Even though tea was discovered in China and gained popularity after being adhered to English customs and traditions, it was in the United States that the drink received the bag version. There are two proven theories for this invention: that of sisters Roberta C. Lawson and Mary McLaren, in 1901, and the best known, that of Thomas Sullivan 1908.

According to patent records, the two American sisters living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, would have developed a tea bag made from cotton. With this material, the drink had no bitter taste and preserved the flavor of the leaves. They created the measure because they believed it would be a great way to avoid wasting large amounts of liquid.

However, the idea of ​​​​the Americans was not taken into account at the time. Seven years after the invention, tea importer Thomas Sullivan began distributing free samples of its leaves to potential customers. Stored in silk bags, the herbs began to be used in this way because it is more economical, since it is not necessary to make the drink in large quantities. Contrary to the sisters’ initiative, this changed the final taste of the tea, but this was not enough to end the “fever” that bag teas became.