A Study On The Spread Of Chainese Tea In Europe And Its Influence

Trade between different nations affects the civilization of the societies concerned. This article embarks from the production and the development of the Chinese tea, union European social background at that time, and focus on when and how the Chinese tea did was introduced to Europe. Analysis the specific processes of Chinese tea in Netherlands, Britain, France and Russia. Finally examines the socio-economic impact of this newly required drinking habit on the European societies.There are two ways for the spread of Chinese tea in Europe, by sea and by land. Netherlands, Britain and France mainly by sea while Russia mainly through the land. It notices that the drinking of Chinese tea first became a fashion in the upper society and then spread to the other sections. The new habit of Chinese tea drinking soon touched a controversy over the merits and shortcomings of the Chinese tea drinking in European societies.Netherlands exported Chinese tea to Europe in1610, which is the first official record of Chinese tea in Europe. They did not only for domestic consumption, but also reselled to other European countries. At first, the tea in British market is basically from Netherlands until1689.Then other European countries imported Chinese tea in18centuries. In1635or1636, Chinese tea was introduced to France. And In1650, Chinese tea was introduced to Germany. Different from this, Chinese tea was introduced to Russia mainly through the land. Two Cossack exported Chinese tea to Russia in1567. They introduced tea plant to Russia, and then Chinese tea was known by Russian.Since the new air line is opened up, the global goods are exchanged growingly. There are three kinds of important non-alcoholic soft drinks enter Europe successively in16th, the17th century. They are cocoa, tea and coffee. So the introduction of this new drink encountered the resistance and criticism from those who favored the traditional wine and other two soft drinks. The unique quality of tea makes it occupy and take the initiative gradually in subsequent competition. Chinese tea has become the wide drink loved by European.The spread of Chinese tea has affected Europe’s social economy profoundly. The tea trading brings financial revenue; increases the currency wealth and the trade revenue; promotes the transit trade; promotes regional economic prosperity.Meanwhile the tea drinking brings special tea culture in European, changes dietary structure of European man, builds their corporeity up, and urges the production of many outstanding literatures and artistic work. In political life, it is beneficial to democratization of European societies, and it riches European man’s amusement.