 |
| Celebrating America's 250th birthday and a nod to the red, white and brew of the Boston Tea Party. |
This weekend, American celebrated its 250th birthday. At Barb's Tea Service we honored the red, white and brew with traditional festivities of the Fourth including fireworks, barbeque and (for us) true blue tea. The latter brought to mind another US milestone event, the Boston Tea Party (now marking its almost 253rd anniversary) and its incredible story: the patriots' protests, the precious cargo thrown overboard and the folks who tried to pick up the pieces of those who literally "spilled the tea".
Patriots' Protest:
The Boston Tea Party, one of the Patriots' protests of England's "taxation without representations", took place December 16, 1773. Members of the Sons of Liberty raided three British cargo ships and dumped their tea inventory into the harbor.
A relatively peaceful rebellion, there was no great physical harm to humans or to vessels. The real casualty was the loss of all that tea.
Precious Cargo Overboard!
The British ships carried five different types of teas:
1. Bohea (bow-hee) black
2. Congou (kong-gue) black
3. Souchang black
4. Singlo green
5. Hyson green
The total value of the tea tossed is estimated to be approximately $1.7 million in today's dollars.
Kicking out those who harbored spilled tea:
One of the Patriots, George Hewes, who participated the tea tossing, recalled that during the time of the purge, "there were several attempts made by some of the citizens of Boston and its vicinity to carry off small quantities of [scattered tea] for their family use. . . watch[ing] their opportunity to snatch up a handful from the deck . . . and put it in their pockets."
Hewes claimed he recognized one of these opportunists as Captain O'Conner, who, when he supposed no one was looking, filled both his pockets and lining of his coat with the scattered tea. Hewes tried to capture O'Conner by snatching on to the offender's coat, but the outer garment ripped and he escaped - but not without punishment. Hewes observed that as the Captain made his way through the crowd, "each one, as he passed, [gave] him a kick or stroke."
Another attempted tea-taking resulted in similar vigilante justice. Hewes described an older gentleman who also tried to take advantage of the spilled tea, but was quickly caught. His pockets were emptied and their contents, along with the elder absconder's hat and wig, were thrown into the water. However, that was not the last of his indignity. Per Hewes, "in consideration of his advanced age, he was permitted to escape, [but not without] now and then a slight kick. . ."
The Destruction of Tea, as the Boston Tea Party was originally referred to, was a bold rebellion against England, and truly embodies the independent spirit of Americans.
Over 250 years later, with the relative ease of accessing our favorite teas via in-town shopping or on-line ordering, we're fortunate not to have faced the temptation of ignoring all that spilled tea.
Happy 250th and here's to celebrating the Red, White and Brew!
More on the five teas, particularly Lapsang Souchong, check out Barb's Tea Service Podcast 13
No comments:
Post a Comment