- [Narrator] Nothing says Britain more than...
Nope.
Keep going.
Ah, yes, there it is.
A nice cup of tea.
(bright music)
We know we have China to thank
for introducing tea to the Western world.
But how did it make its way to England
and become the cultural obsession it is today?
Well, that's all thanks to one Portuguese woman.
The year, 1662.
The person, Catherine of Braganza.
She had just won the hand of England's King Charles II
with the help of a very large dowry
including money, treasures, and spices.
This worthwhile trade made her
the Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
When she arrived to her new homeland,
she brought with her packets of loose leaf tea
in crates labeled Transporte de Ervas Aromaticas.
It's a theory that this was later abbreviated to T-E-A, tea.
Now tea could already be found in England
but was only really used for medicinal purposes.
Catherine continued drinking tea to her heart's content.
- Mm.
- [Narrator] And as the new royal, everything about her,
including her beverage habits,
was copied by other ladies desperate
to be just like their idol.
Another thing Catherine brought to the table
from Portugal was the idea of tea drinking experience.
She popularized the use of porcelain teacups and mugs.
By the end of the 17th century,
much of British aristocracy were enjoying the hot beverage.
- [Woman] Oo, delightful.
- [Narrator] And soon enough, so was everyone else.
Today, while tea can be found pretty much everywhere,
it remains a special daily pastime for the Brits.
- Mm.
- [Narrator] So carry on and drink tea, people of England.