Bringing you a taste of history in your teacup!
Last year I picked up a neat little treat from Mount Vernon, and then promptly never got around to writing a blog post about it until over a year later. I guess that’s just my life now. Aren’t you guys going to be glad to hear the end of my complaining about never having enough time to post as frequently as I used to?
Eastern Shore Tea Co. is a Maryland based company that produces a variety of unique tea blends, several of which are inspired by history. I’ve seen blends drawing their inspiration from the American Revolution and even Edgar Allen Poe! I was excited to see their 1607 Herbal Tea because it’s so unusual to see anything relating to Jamestown food history, especially prepackaged stuff. Read on to find out whether or not this truly would have been something enjoyed in the first permanent English colony in North America!
Eastern Shore Tea Co. is a Maryland based company that produces a variety of unique tea blends, several of which are inspired by history. I’ve seen blends drawing their inspiration from the American Revolution and even Edgar Allen Poe! I was excited to see their 1607 Herbal Tea because it’s so unusual to see anything relating to Jamestown food history, especially prepackaged stuff. Read on to find out whether or not this truly would have been something enjoyed in the first permanent English colony in North America!
The tea came in a cute little package with colorful artwork of the Susan Constant, the Discovery and the Godspeed, the three ships that brought over the original 144 or so colonists. The package contains 20 tea bags, which is pretty reasonable. The tea is named for the year the first colonists arrived. I’ve placed Jane’s story about seven years later, so we can assume that this blend is something she was introduced to from colonists who had lived in the colony longer.
On the back is a short description for historical context. It explains how as the provisions from England ran out, the settlers had to turn to the natural environment to help supplement their diets. It explains that this blend of native herbs and spices – spearmint, peppermint, hibiscus, rose hips, and lemongrass – might have been “a substitute for their beloved tea.”
I really appreciate that the company took the time to do this, but let’s get one thing clear: Jane and her fellow Jamestown colonists would not have been the tea enthusiasts we assume all British people throughout history to be. Tea first became popularized in English society in the 1660’s, at least partially because Charles II and his wife Catherine of Braganza were big fans of the traditionally Chinese beverage. On September 25, 1660, famous diarist Samuel Pepys noted that he sent for a cup of “Tee”, a Chinese drink he had never had before. Pepys was a member of the upper class, and thus it’s extremely unlikely he wouldn’t have had tea before then unless it was only recently popular or accessible. Saying tea was beloved of colonists – largely the second sons of the upper class who were not likely to inherit much from their fathers upon their passing – who lived over fifty years earlier just isn’t true.
That said, it is definitely true that the early Jamestown colonists experienced a lot of uncertainty and desperation when it came to ensuring they had food on the table consistently. Obviously I can’t say for sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that they did end up finding edible herbs and boiling them into soup or something drinkable. Nettles have been used that way historically, as have plenty of other herbs and spices, and there’s always the possibility that settlers learned which plants might have certain benefits when cooked from the Powhatan when relations between the two groups were less hostile.
The company takes being eco friendly and conscious seriously, as each tea bag is made of paper and does not contain staples or string. This makes it microwave safe and helps reduce waste, which is always nice!
I really appreciate that the company took the time to do this, but let’s get one thing clear: Jane and her fellow Jamestown colonists would not have been the tea enthusiasts we assume all British people throughout history to be. Tea first became popularized in English society in the 1660’s, at least partially because Charles II and his wife Catherine of Braganza were big fans of the traditionally Chinese beverage. On September 25, 1660, famous diarist Samuel Pepys noted that he sent for a cup of “Tee”, a Chinese drink he had never had before. Pepys was a member of the upper class, and thus it’s extremely unlikely he wouldn’t have had tea before then unless it was only recently popular or accessible. Saying tea was beloved of colonists – largely the second sons of the upper class who were not likely to inherit much from their fathers upon their passing – who lived over fifty years earlier just isn’t true.
That said, it is definitely true that the early Jamestown colonists experienced a lot of uncertainty and desperation when it came to ensuring they had food on the table consistently. Obviously I can’t say for sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that they did end up finding edible herbs and boiling them into soup or something drinkable. Nettles have been used that way historically, as have plenty of other herbs and spices, and there’s always the possibility that settlers learned which plants might have certain benefits when cooked from the Powhatan when relations between the two groups were less hostile.
The company takes being eco friendly and conscious seriously, as each tea bag is made of paper and does not contain staples or string. This makes it microwave safe and helps reduce waste, which is always nice!
The tea should be allowed steep for five minutes. It has a very minty scent, which makes sense what with the spearmint and peppermint.
Looks like Boots wants to try some tea for himself.
I’m slowly coming around on herbal teas. I tend to like black tea or fruity tea, but anything that’s too minty is a little meh for me at best. The two most dominant flavors in here are definitely the spearmint and peppermint, making this a really nice tea if you’re starting to get a sore throat or stuffy nose. Considering the state of the healthcare system in the 1600’s, I’d say it’s pretty likely you’d be suffering from one or both sooner or later, if you know what I mean.
So although I wasn’t a huge fan of the flavor and am a little bummed about the not quite historically authentic synopsis on the back, overall I’m a big fan of this product and definitely would like to try some of their other teas. Admittedly I’m a bit of a tea fiend – I have a whole shelf of tea in my pantry that is constantly overflowing – but I think the concept is really cool and a lot of their products sound pretty unique and tasty.
Unfortunately, it looks like they’ve stopped carrying this particular blend, so if you’re looking to capture the flavor of what English colonists might have scrounged from the local flora, you’re going to have to turn to a different herbal tea for now. If you’re interested in picking up some of their other flavors, you can place an order directly with their website, or keep an eye out in the gift shops of any historic museums you might frequent. The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum carried a couple varieties, and I’ve seen their Liberty Tea sold at the National Museum of American History. They’re also carried by most Wegman’s apparently, so if you have one locally, check it out!
So although I wasn’t a huge fan of the flavor and am a little bummed about the not quite historically authentic synopsis on the back, overall I’m a big fan of this product and definitely would like to try some of their other teas. Admittedly I’m a bit of a tea fiend – I have a whole shelf of tea in my pantry that is constantly overflowing – but I think the concept is really cool and a lot of their products sound pretty unique and tasty.
Unfortunately, it looks like they’ve stopped carrying this particular blend, so if you’re looking to capture the flavor of what English colonists might have scrounged from the local flora, you’re going to have to turn to a different herbal tea for now. If you’re interested in picking up some of their other flavors, you can place an order directly with their website, or keep an eye out in the gift shops of any historic museums you might frequent. The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum carried a couple varieties, and I’ve seen their Liberty Tea sold at the National Museum of American History. They’re also carried by most Wegman’s apparently, so if you have one locally, check it out!
I guess we have to take a field trip to Wegman’s, Boots!
I was completely bummed by both the tea and honey selections at Mount Vernon. Thankfully, George liked my other favorite beverage.
ReplyDeleteOh no! That's too bad, I remember them having lots of honey and tea last time I was there. :(
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