Our new exhibit tells the story of how the Rancho’s diverse inhabitants and workers consumed this beverage and partook in its rich traditions. To this day, tea remains a beverage infused in ceremony, enjoyed by many.
What is Tea?
Tea has held a significant role in society, whether it was for medicinal purposes or to ward off hunger. Tea comes from the leaves of the shrub Camellia sinensis. The species name sinensis is Latin and means “from China.” Herbal teas or tisanes are made from plants other than C. sinensis, and can be brewed from leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds and even bark. It is speculated as to when the first cup was brewed but we do know that the primary use of the beverage across diverse cultures, including those in Mexico, Spain, and India, started with medicinal purposes. We see this influence at Rancho Los Cerritos by looking at the various herbs grown in the garden. For example, lemongrass and mint were grown for digestion, steeped rosemary leaves for boosting immunity, and flower blossoms were brewed to help calm the nerves.
Please click on the images with descriptions below to see a detailed image of the artifacts.
The Evolution of Tea Service
With serving of tea becoming more popular, many new accessories were introduced to help share and make the experience more enjoyable. For example, Queen Victoria was the first one to add a formal teapot (like our Silver Teapots) to the formal Tea Service Set to make the experience more extravagant while a Teapot with Warming Stand would let one dilute strong tea or re-wet used leaves. Historically, the English aristocracy combatted the bitterness of black tea by adding milk and sugar, so items such as the Sugar bowl and Creamer became part of the tea service. Chinese influence like the Ceramic Ginger jar, held and delivered ginger additives to one’s tea to not only enhance the flavor but also to add medicinal effects. The items here are all specific to drinking tea in the comfort of one’s home while the Chinese Tea Caddy with Tea Set gave people the ability, specifically Chinese railroad workers, to enjoy tea without needing to build a fire to boil water.
Silver Teapots
Massachusetts, Unknown Date
Two Silver-plated Teapots
Donated by Ethel Cameron
The first silver tea pot was created in England for the East India Company just ahead of the time the company started to officially trade tea in 1699. It was a tall, ineffective design and sported a wooden handle.
Tea Service Set
Massachusetts, Unknown Date
Two Silver-plated Teapots
Donated by Ethel Cameron
A silver service, sterling in particular, has been a standard, but is not as common in the homes of today because the ceremony of tea and coffee is no longer the tradition it once was.
Teapot with Warming Stand
Unknown Origin & Date
Brass Stand & Teapot with Walnut Handle
Donated by Rachel L. DeNick Family
This type of vessel, made of metal with a cool handle due to continuous heat, was typically kept on the table and used for warming water to add to strongly brewed tea or to refill a spent pot of tea leaves.
Teapot with Warming Stand
Chinese, Unknown DateBlue and White Glazed Ceramic with Wicker/Bamboo StrappingDonated by Florence L. Bixby
Ginger is a tasty root with a medicinal component (digestion) and sliced ginger was often brewed directly into tea or served alongside sliced lemons to combat bitterness.
Teapot and Teacups: Decorated China
Chinese Tea Caddy with Tea Set
Chinese, 1880
Donated by Friends of Los Cerritos
Insulated tea baskets typically contained two cups for sharing and were used for convenience and transport.
A Handle to Hold
Tea cups originally did not have handles because there was not a way for the handle to be attached to the cup and bear the weight of a full, hot container of liquid. In 1707, a German alchemist named Johann Friedrich Bottger created a hard paste that was strong enough to solve such a problem, thus, the advent of the individual English Tea Cup and the Purple Tea Set.
English Teacups
Purple Tea Set
Chinese, 1830 – 1850
China with Transferred Floral Print
Donated by Ethel Cameron
Many early tea sets have a small dish in addition to the saucer underneath a handle-less cup which can be uncomfortable to hold. It is impolite to blow on tea so the beverage was poured into the dish to help it cool faster. The cup was placed on the saucer and tea was consumed from the dish.
English Teacups
Unknown Origin, 1849
China with Blue and White Transferware
Donated by Grace Bixby
Tea was originally a shared beverage. In China and Japan, tea was prepared and consumed in the same shared vessel until individual crockery became common.
