The following anti-tea poem, published in several American newspapers during the period leading up to the Revolution, captures the prevailing spirit and sentiment of the colonists. It is interesting since it is told from the woman’s point of view.

A LADY’S ADIEU TO HER TEA-TABLE

FAREWELL the Tea-board with your gaudy attire,
Ye cups and ye saucers that I did admire;
To my cream pot and tongs I now bid adieu;
That pleasure’s all fled that I once found in you.

Farewell pretty chest that so lately did shine,
With hyson and congo and best double fine;
Many a sweet moment by you I have sat,
Hearing girls and old maids to tattle and chat;

And the spruce coxcomb laugh at nothing at all,
Only some silly work that might happen to fall.
No more shall my teapot so generous be
In filling the cups with this pernicious tea,

For I’ll fill it with water and drink out the same,
Before I’ll lose LIBERTY that dearest name,
Because I am taught (and believe it is fact)
That our ruin is aimed at in the late act,

Of imposing a duty on all foreign Teas,
Which detestable stuff we can quit when we please.
LIBERTY’S The Goddess that I do adore,
And I’ll maintain her right until my last hour,

Before she shall part I will die in the cause,
For I’ll never be govern’d by tyranny’s laws.

One hundred years later, “A Ballad of the Boston Tea Party,” by Oliver Wendell Holmes, was read at a meeting of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Here is part of Holmes’ account:

An evening party, — only that,
No formal invitation,
No gold-laced coat, no stiff cravat,
No feast in contemplation,
No silk-robed dames, no fiddling band,
No flowers, no songs, no dancing, —
A tribe of red men, axe in hand, —
Behold the guests advancing!

(The poem can be read in its entirely here.)

The Boston Tea Party was one of several crucial events leading up to the American Revolution. The Tea Act, which actually lowered the price of tea, but did not eliminate any levies on it, was designed to prevent the East India Company from going bankrupt, not to benefit the colonists. This was a party held not on price, but on principle.

So let’s toast those brave Bostonians of long ago! After all, how often does tea so dramatically change the course of history?

To really get into the spirit of things, try some Boston Harbour Tea, manufactured by Davison, Newman & Co., who is still in business today! It’s a select blend of Ceylon and Darjeeling teas with a sweet aroma and brisk flavor. (Drink this with caution if you tend toward inciting revolutions.)

For more about the Boston Tea Party, visit the BTP Historical Society website. Lots of interesting facts there, including a roster of tea party participants, personal accounts, and a look at one of the original tea chests.

Check in with cloudscome at a wrung sponge for today’s Poetry Friday Roundup. A very special Crown of Sonnets, “Cutting a Swath,” is being presented by seven of the blogosphere’s most accomplished poets. Don’t miss it!

April is Tea Party Month here at alphabet soup! Post or send me your favorite tea time recipes, sweet or savory: readermail (at) jamakimrattigan (dot com). Do join us!