I am delighted to be part of a new documentary, TEA: The Drink that Changed the World. The film follows tea’s epic journey from the ancient Chinese tea gardens of Wuyi to the 18th-century ports of Europe and on to the teacups of Colonial Boston. From fueling the rise of the British Empire to igniting the American Revolution, tea’s saga is one of global transformation. I never tire of telling its stories.

Shot in China’s forbidden Wuyi Mountains, the documentary takes viewers into the mystical realm of ancient tea-making techniques and never-before-filmed Zen Tea Ceremonies. The cinematography is often breathtaking.

This film immerses audiences in the epic adventure of how a humble beverage became the universal cup of humanity.

This project, commissioned by Namping City, Fujian, to be broadcast on Chinese television, was intended to introduce modern-day China to its rich tea history. I was filmed in Boston and San Francisco to tell the Chinese audience the story of how their tea came to the American Colonies, where it steeped a revolution.

In my four trips to China over the past ten years, I was always surprised that my Chinese audiences had no idea that their tea was dumped in Boston Harbor on December 16, 1773. They often appeared to take some pride in learning that historical tidbit. And I was happy to be a part of that fascinating revelation.

This 90-minute film is now streaming free on the TUBI platform. Whether you are a serious tea student or an occasional tea consumer, you will come away with a new appreciation of the work and skill that goes into growing and crafting the teas presented in this documentary.

Hopefully, you will be more mindful of the rich tradition that tea brings to every sip you take from your cup.

As we prepare to celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary, please tell your Chinese friends that their tea was responsible for the American Revolution!

---

Read more about the history of tea in A SOCIAL HISTORY OF TEA by Jane Pettigrew & Bruce Richardson.