Tea, Its History and Mystery #268444

The earliest mention made of Tea by an Englishman is that contained in a letter from a Mr. Wickham, agent Of the East India Company at Pirando, Japan, and dated June 27, 1615, to a Mr. Eaton, another Officer Of the Company, resident at Macao, China, asking for a pot Of the best Cha. How the commission was executed does not appear, but in Mr. Eaton's subsequent account Of expenditures occurs this item, Three silver por ringers to drink Tea in. The first person, however, to advocate the use Of Tea in Europe was Cornelius Bottrekoe, a professor Of the Leyden University, who, in a treatise on Tea, Coffee and Chocolate, published in 1649, strongly pronounces in favor Of the former, denying the possibility Of its being injurious even when taken in immoderate quantities.