1. HighPointMuseum
1859 E. LexingtonAve.
(336) 885-1859
www.highpointmuseum.org
Tea Time in the Park
Come and sample colonial teas including imported Chinese tea and herbal teas grown in most
colonial gardens. Learn about the importance of tea for colonials and why tea was boycotted
during the American Revolution. All ages welcome. FREE. Drop-in.
Learning/Interpretive Goals:
 Examples of imported teas and local herbal teas used by colonials.
 Sample different teas with discussion on importance of tea in Early America.
 Emphasize social stigma associated with drinking imported tea and riots/plundering by
disgruntled colonists toward their tea drinking neighbors.
Time Frame Early Spring (while having a fire is still feasible)
Time Estimate approx. ¼ to ½ hour
Volunteers 2 minimum
Materials
 Tea Service
 Imported Brick tea
 Hyson tea
 Sugar
 Honey
 Pitchers
 Mint
 Chamomile
 Any other herbs to brew for tea
 Small plastic or paper cups
 Tea strainer
 Small bags for brewing.

2. HighPointMuseum
1859 E. LexingtonAve.
(336) 885-1859
www.highpointmuseum.org
Tea Time in the Park
Activities
 Set up two stations
 Table 1: tea service, brick tea, hyson tea, tea strainer, and sugar
 Table 2: herbs, pitchers, and honey
 Have small plastic/paper cups on each table for guests to sample teas
 Keep kettles on the fire to heat water throughout the day
Historical Context
18th century colonials drank tea either imported from the Far East or brewed from herbs
in their own herb gardens. Whether you were wealthy or poor, tea was an important part of
daily life. Tea became a social stigma during the American Revolution and caused Tea Parties
against the tax and importation of tea. We even had a Tea Party at Edenton in 1774.
Roy Moxham, The Extraordinary Story of the World’s Favorite Drink (Philadelphia:
Running Press, 2003).
Ray Raphael, A People’s History of the American Revolution: How Common People
Shaped the Fight for Independence (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2002)
Edenton Tea Party.
http://www.northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/50/entry
Conner Prairie Museum, A Dish of Tea: Recipes, History and Etiquette (Bear Wallow
Books, 1998)
History Myths Debunked, www.historymyths.wordpress.com

3. HighPointMuseum
1859 E. LexingtonAve.
(336) 885-1859
www.highpointmuseum.org
Tea Time in the Park
Associated Myths
 All colonials gave up their tea
o False: Those colonials who supported the British continued to drink tea. This
could be very dangerous if your neighbors were Patriots.
 All colonials drank the same tea
o False: The very poor could not afford the imported tea so they drank herbal teas
they harvested from their gardens.
 Colonial Americans used brick tea.
o False: The Chinese used brick tea but there is no historical evidence that brick
tea was exported to the colonies. The tea aboard the ships in Boston Harbor was
loose leaf tea, probably Bohea.
The silver tea service is for
decoration only. This particular
set belongs to a Park Guide.
Brick tea,includingsmall brick
owned by Park Guide to use
for brewing. Sugar,ownedby
Park Guide with sugar
snippers. Also include hyson
tea. (Brick tea is debatable
for historical accuracy.)
Table 1:
Includes Silver Tea service,
plastic cups, brick tea, cone
sugar,PorcelainTea service, and
Hyson tea

4. HighPointMuseum
1859 E. LexingtonAve.
(336) 885-1859
www.highpointmuseum.org
Tea Time in the Park
Table 2:
Includes Pitcher, wooden
bowls with herbs, plastic
cups, and honey.
Need some kind of bag to
use for brewing.
Wooden bowls contain dried
herbs. Use Mints, Chamomile, or
other herbs that are non-toxic.