A common misconception about the Boston Tea Party is that it predominantly involved black tea. However, historical insights reveal that green tea was also popular among the Founding Fathers and colonists.
1. Variety of Teas: Both black and green teas were consumed in colonial America. Bruce Richardson, a tea historian, explains that there were five types of tea available from China during this period: three black (Bohea, Souchong, and Congou) and two green (Hyson and Singlo).
2. Importance of Bohea: Bohea, the most common black tea, was widely consumed. It was viewed similarly to how we refer to all facial tissues as "Kleenex" today. People would often ask for a "cup of Bohea" without needing to specify further.
3. Storage Practices: Colonial Americans distinguished between green and black tea, storing them in separate compartments of ornamental tea caddies to maintain their tea rituals despite boycotting British products.
4. Merchant Preferences: Merchants preferred black tea because it was more resilient during the lengthy transportation from China, causing it to be more widely available in America.
5. Substitutes for British Tea: Even after rejecting British tea, many colonists continued the tradition of tea drinking. They created “Liberty Teas” using local ingredients like dried fruits and herbs to substitute traditional tea.
In conclusion, the Boston Tea Party involved both black and green teas, reflecting a diverse tea culture among the Founding Fathers and colonists. Although many distanced themselves from British tea, they maintained the ritual of tea drinking with creative alternatives.
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