6 TEA 



an embassy to the Court of Pekin bringing back some 

 green tea to the ancient capital, Moscow. In 1664 the 

 famous English East India Company made a present of 

 two pounds of tea to the queen of Charles II, Catherine 

 of Braganza, and the product was still regarded as a 

 rare delicacy. Fourteen years later the Company 

 imported from China nearly 5,000 Ibs. and towards the 

 end of the century tea had ceased to be a rarity. 



