Oea Drinking in 18th -Century "America: 



uts etiquette an^ E^c^uifa^e^^ 



^ij J^ohis Jioth 



In 18th-century America, the pleasant practice of taking tea at 

 home was an established social custom with a recognised code of man- 

 ners and distinctive furnishings. Pride was taken in a correct and 

 fashionable tea table ivhose equipage included much more than teapot, 

 cups, and saucers. 



It was usually the duty of the mistress to make and pour the tea; 

 and it tvas the duty of the guests to be adept at handling a teacup and 

 saucer and to provide social ' 'chitchat. ' ' Because of the expense and 

 time involved, the tea party ivas limited to the upper classes; 

 consequently, such an affair ivas a status symbol. The cocktail 

 party of the 20th century has, perhaps, replaced the tea party of the 

 18th century as a social custom, reflecting the contrast between the 

 relaxed atmosphere of yesterday ivith the hurried pace of today. 



The Author: Miss Roth is assistant curator of cultural 

 history in the United States National Museum, Smithsonian 

 Institution . 



7 HE Americans "use much tea," noted the Abbe 

 Robin during his visit to this country in 1781. 

 "The greatest mark of civility and welcome 

 they can show you, is to invite you to drink it with 

 them." ' 



Tea was the social beverage of the 18th century; 

 serving it was a sign of politeness and hospitality, and 

 drinking it was a custom with distinctive manners and 

 specific equipment. Most discussions of the com- 

 modity have dealt only with its political, historical, 

 or economic importance; however, in order to under- 

 stand the place tea holds in this country's past, it 

 also is important to consider the beverage in terms 



' Claude C. Robin, .Xnv Travels through North /Imrrica: in a 

 Series of Letters . . . in the Tear 775/, Boston, 1784, p. 23. 



PAPER 14: TEA DRINKING IN 18TH-CENTURY AMERICA 



of the social life and traditions of the Americans. As 

 the Abbe Robin pointed out, not only was tea an 

 important commodity on this side of the Atlantic, but 

 the imbibing of it was an established social practice. 



An examination of teatime behavior and a con- 

 sideration of what utensils were used or thought 

 appropriate for tea drinking are of help in recon- 

 structing and interpreting Atucrican history as well 

 as in furnishing and re-creating interiors of the period, 

 thus bringing into clearer focus the picture of daily 

 life in 18th-century America. For these reasons, and 

 because the subject has received little attention, the 

 present study has been undertaken. 



Tea had long been known and used in the Orient 

 before it was introduced into Europe in the early 

 part of the 17th century. At about the same time 



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