Show tea the luscom of tea drinking is as old as the chinese empire and as early as A D a duty was levied on the tea that grew wild on the chinese mount tims but it is within two centuries hut its use was adopted by the english when the east tea company imported it and it was sold at 25 a pound its uso was confined to the royal household in the ician of henry VII a refreshment consisting of tea and cakes was called a voide on the occasion of the marriage dinner of katharine of and arthur prince of wales the court chronicler wrote the evening refreshment called voide was brought in by fourscore earls barons and knights walking two and two and coffits comfits were offered one noble servitor presented the golden spice plate a second the cups while a third of lower rank filled the cups from a golden ewer since then what washington irving calls the motherly teapot has become a power in the world detroit free preas |