The whole concept of having a break during the day to partake in tea began some 250 years ago. Seen by some as highly controversial, it all started with an employer serving tea during the morning to his employees that had started work as early as 5 or 6am.
Today, worldwide, it is quite common for employees to stop work for a tea or coffee break during the day and they are often taken for granted or required by Union rules in particular industries. In Australia we refer to these tea breaks, whilst at work, as morning tea or afternoon tea.

A device made of silk was patented in 1903 itself by RC Lawson and M McLaren under the name ‘Tea Leaf Holder’. But the credit for inventing teabags was given to Thomas Sullivan, a New York City tea merchant in 1908, who commercially exploited the concept independently.

The modern term "Tea" derives from early Chinese dialect words - such as Tchai, Ch’a and Tay - used both to describe the beverage and the leaf. From the earliest times tea was renowned for its properties as a healthy, refreshing drink. By the third century AD, many stories were being told and some written about tea and the benefits of tea drinking, but it was not until the Tang Dynasty (618 AD - 906 AD) that tea became China's national drink and the word ch'a was used to describe tea.
Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford is often credited with the tradition of the now famous British ‘Afternoon Tea’ in the early 1840's. It is also believed that ‘Tea Dance’ which was popular in 1810’s, performed during early evenings with Tea and snacks, is also a precursor to the ‘Afternoon Tea’ tradition.
Afternoon Tea is also called ‘Low Tea’ as it is served on low tables (tea tables) during ‘low’ (early afternoon) and is normally accompanied by light foods like pastries and sandwiches. On the contrary, a ‘High Tea’ is served very late in the evenings. It consists of a full dinner with meat, fish or eggs and served with Tea. High Tea was considered as a working class supper during the Victorian period.
December 16, 1773 – a day marked by a historical event, paved the way for the American Revolution. Americans resisted levying of Tax on Tea and refused Tea to be unloaded at American Ports. Three British Ships – Eleanor, Beaver and Dartmouth docked at Boston Port with Tea and on December 16th 1773, about 200 Americans dressed up as Mohawk Indians entered the ship and threw 45 tons of Tea into the sea. This rebellion was termed as Boston Tea Party and sparked the movement for American Revolution. Until the middle of the 19th century, tea was carried on slow cargo ships, To reduce sailing time, Americans introduced a new type of vessels called ‘Clippers’ with big sails, which are faster and could carry greater loads. These clippers were later came to known as ‘Tea Clippers’. Opening of Suez Canal in 1869 and arrival of Steamers forced Clippers out of Tea business as the Canal was not suitable for sailing and opened a shorter pathway for the trade.
There are many stories about the origin of ‘Tea Pots’ what we see today. But one of the most convincing pieces of history says that Tea Pots finds its origin and basic design from Islamic Coffee Pots! Though Tea originated in China, Tea Pots, which are indispensable to any Tea serving ceremony today.
The first Tea advertisement appeared in a September about three hundred years ago, to be exact 346 years back. But when public sale of Tea began in London in 1657, by East India Company, undercutting Dutch prices, East India Company promoted Tea as “ a panacea for apoplexy, catarrh, colic, drowsiness, epilepsy, gallstones, lethargy, migraine, paralysis and vertigo.” This probably is the first reference of an advertised claim of health benefit of Tea!.
On a hot day in the month of June, 100 years ago, America tasted a new tea product – Iced Tea!  It was in this month at the World’s Fair at St. Louis in 1904, Richard Blechynden poured the tea brew he prepared over ice cubes, as visitors to the fair was not interested in taking the hot tea on a hot day !!
Though China claims the first grown tea, the first reference of Iced Tea appeared in England in early 19th century. The sweetened cold brew of tea was referred as ‘Tea Punch’ and generally comes heavily spiked with liquor. It was also called ‘Sweet Tea’ and names like ‘Regent’s Punch’ (after King George IV) was also common’. References of Iced Tea and its recipes appeared later in US in the mid 19th Century, and it has become popular  after the 1904 World’s Fair at St. Louis.