Teahouses are the pubs of China and were the engine room of Western women’s political movements; tea became the beverage of choice in the huts of samurai and the parlours of high society.

When Emperor Shennong reportedly discovered tea, he didn’t keep it to himself. By sharing his discovery, he opened up a world in which people could gather and partake in a beverage as stimulating as the conversation, as relaxing as the environs and as delightful as the company.

In many cultures particularly in Asia and the Middle East, teahouses have historically been, and in some cases still are, a central place of social interaction. Fun fact: Dushanbe in Tajikistan is home to the world’s biggest teahouse, which has the capacity to host 3,200 people.

After being introduced to the West, tea became the beverage of choice at formal and informal gatherings. Notable people such as Anna Russell, the Duchess of Bedford who was credited with inventing afternoon tea, turned what could’ve been a solo snack break into a reason to invite friends around. Today, this tradition is carried out in tearooms at workplaces around the globe as workers gather for a biscuit and a cuppa to fend off the afternoon doldrums.

In Europe, France in particular, the salon became synonymous with a gathering place for intellectuals where hosts would facilitate lively discussion between intellectuals on curated topics. The introduction of the salon de thé, where women could gather, meant increased female participation in the public sphere – in fact the most famous salonnières were women and many of the West’s feminist movements started in teahouses.

Lately, thanks to travel restrictions and lockdowns, we have been sharing tea virtually, such as through our very own Australian Tea Cultural Seminar. Presentations from growers, ceramicists, experts, educators and innovators helped bring people together for what turned into a social event thanks to interaction between attendees flowing throughout the day.

There’s something to be said about tea being more than a beverage. Tea is the reason to gather, and it is the liquid that has been history’s great social lubricant.

This article originally appeared in AUSTCS enews 11 November 2021. Mailchimp no longer allows external links to the original newsletter.