Chinese mythology – Many legends are linked to the origins of tea, such as that of Emperor Shen Nung (translation of his name: Divine Farmer), who is said to have lived around 2700 BC. He was considered the inventor of agriculture, used medicinal herbs, and boiled drinking water because it was better for hygiene. One day, he boiled his drinking water under a wild tea bush, the Camellia Sinensis; a few leaves fell into his water, turning it brown. After a few sips, it was clear: this drink was refreshing and delicious.
Image source: The East India Company.
Medicine – Initially, tea was used as medicine, but during the Tang Dynasty (7th century), drinking tea became a popular tradition and spread through trade to Japan, India, Mongolia, and Tibet. Special pots and jugs, made of stone or ceramic, were manufactured to keep the tea dry and aromatic. In the 14th and 17th centuries, during the Ming Dynasty, there was a demand for decorative and airtight tea caddies and jars.
Image source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Image source: Proantic.
The VOC – The first shipment of tea arrived in the Netherlands around 1610 via the VOC (Dutch East India Company, 1602-1800) and quickly spread throughout Europe. This drink was extremely popular among the elite in England and France, and decorative storage jars were manufactured, but Chinese porcelain jars also arrived in European ports. These objects were usually white with blue figurative motifs.
Image source: Museum Prinsenhof Delft.
Image source: Britannica.
The road to freedom – Tea plantations were established in Dutch and English colonies, such as Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and India. The British East India Company played a major role in the global tea trade, which led to a famous conflict: the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773. This was a political protest in America against British taxes on tea, a crucial event during the American Revolution (1765-1791). 342 chests of tea were dumped into Boston Harbor at Griffin’s Wharf.
Afternoon tea & mass production – Tea was particularly popular in the United Kingdom, and the custom of ‘afternoon tea’ became a household name in the 19th century. Tea thus became a ‘popular drink’ and tins were produced for the masses. The tea was packaged in colorful tins with brand names, and today these tea tins are collector’s items.
Image source: Sotheby’s.
Timeless tea jars – Today, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world after water. There are many different types of tea, and they can be found in every supermarket. Tea jars are still manufactured today and come in all shapes and sizes, from reusable tins to Japanese ceramic pots. Dutch manufacturers such as De Porceleyne Fles and Oud Delft also make decorative, classic hand-painted tea jars; they are a nod to the past.
WORLD WIDE SHIPPING - FREE shipping within NL/BE for purchases over €50
Tea Canister: a timeless object of Eastern origin
Chinese mythology – Many legends are linked to the origins of tea, such as that of Emperor Shen Nung (translation of his name: Divine Farmer), who is said to have lived around 2700 BC. He was considered the inventor of agriculture, used medicinal herbs, and boiled drinking water because it was better for hygiene. One day, he boiled his drinking water under a wild tea bush, the Camellia Sinensis; a few leaves fell into his water, turning it brown. After a few sips, it was clear: this drink was refreshing and delicious.
Image source: The East India Company.
Medicine – Initially, tea was used as medicine, but during the Tang Dynasty (7th century), drinking tea became a popular tradition and spread through trade to Japan, India, Mongolia, and Tibet. Special pots and jugs, made of stone or ceramic, were manufactured to keep the tea dry and aromatic. In the 14th and 17th centuries, during the Ming Dynasty, there was a demand for decorative and airtight tea caddies and jars.
Image source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Image source: Proantic.
The VOC – The first shipment of tea arrived in the Netherlands around 1610 via the VOC (Dutch East India Company, 1602-1800) and quickly spread throughout Europe. This drink was extremely popular among the elite in England and France, and decorative storage jars were manufactured, but Chinese porcelain jars also arrived in European ports. These objects were usually white with blue figurative motifs.
Image source: Museum Prinsenhof Delft.
Image source: Britannica.
The road to freedom – Tea plantations were established in Dutch and English colonies, such as Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and India. The British East India Company played a major role in the global tea trade, which led to a famous conflict: the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773. This was a political protest in America against British taxes on tea, a crucial event during the American Revolution (1765-1791). 342 chests of tea were dumped into Boston Harbor at Griffin’s Wharf.
Afternoon tea & mass production – Tea was particularly popular in the United Kingdom, and the custom of ‘afternoon tea’ became a household name in the 19th century. Tea thus became a ‘popular drink’ and tins were produced for the masses. The tea was packaged in colorful tins with brand names, and today these tea tins are collector’s items.
Image source: Sotheby’s.
Timeless tea jars – Today, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world after water. There are many different types of tea, and they can be found in every supermarket. Tea jars are still manufactured today and come in all shapes and sizes, from reusable tins to Japanese ceramic pots. Dutch manufacturers such as De Porceleyne Fles and Oud Delft also make decorative, classic hand-painted tea jars; they are a nod to the past.