At the EduFortress Children's Festival on 1 June, we told the history of tea to the most curious listeners of all: children. Here are some of the stories they liked best – perfect for reading together at home over a cup of fruit tea.
1. An emperor and a falling leaf
Legend says that long ago in China, Emperor Shennong was boiling water so he could drink it clean. A light breeze blew a few leaves into the pot, and the water changed colour and took on a pleasant smell. The emperor tasted it and liked it – and that, they say, is how tea was born!
2. All true teas come from the same plant
Green, black, white and yellow teas all come from the leaves of the same shrub: Camellia sinensis. What makes the difference is how the leaves are treated after they are picked – how long we let them “rest” and turn darker, just as a cut apple turns brown if you leave it on the table.
3. The tea that isn't tea
Fruit teas and herbal teas, like chamomile or mint, contain no tea leaves – that's why they're also called tisanes or infusions. They have no caffeine and are suitable for children, even in the evening.
4. Tea as money
In the past, in some parts of Asia, tea leaves were pressed into hard bricks that were even used as money: you could buy salt, horses or clothes with them!
5. The tea bag, invented by mistake
Around 1900, a merchant in America sent his customers tea samples in small silk pouches. Some people thought they were supposed to put the pouch straight into the water – and that is how the tea bag came about.
6. Iced tea, saved by a hot day
At a world's fair in America in 1904, a tea seller couldn't sell any hot tea because it was very hot outside. He put ice in the tea – and people queued up for it!
Tea around the world, explained for children
- In Japan, green tea is whisked with a small bamboo whisk until it froths, like a green milky coffee. It's called matcha.
- In England, people drink tea with milk at five o'clock, with small sandwiches and cakes arranged on a stand with three plates.
- In Russia, the water for tea was kept hot in a large metal urn with a tap, called a samovar.
- In Morocco, green mint tea is poured from very high up so it froths in the glass.
- In South America, people drink maté from a round gourd, through a metal straw with a little strainer at the end.
A game: guess the tea by its smell
- Put a teaspoon of different teas in a few small bowls: one with strawberry, one with mint, one with orange, one with vanilla.
- Blindfolded, the child smells each bowl and guesses what they can smell: a fruit, a flower, a spice?
- Then they look at the leaves and pieces of dried fruit and try to recognise them.
- Finally, make the winning tea together and drink it with a snack.
The game teaches children to pay attention to smells and tastes and turns tea into a small adventure.
A little ritual for home
Make a fruit tea together: the child chooses the tea by its smell, measures the teaspoon, watches the water change colour and times the steeping. For little ones we recommend the caffeine-free tisanes in our Fruit tea and Rooibos collections, served lukewarm or even cold in summer. Remember: hot water is always poured by an adult.
Summer recipe: iced fruit tea for children
- Make a litre of fruit tea, for example Strawberry Cream or Wild Berries, with 4–5 heaped teaspoons of tea and boiling water, for 10 minutes.
- Strain it, let it cool, then put it in the fridge.
- Serve it in glasses with a few ice cubes, orange slices or a few berries. If you'd like it sweeter, add a little honey while the tea is still lukewarm.
Frequently asked questions
Which teas can children drink?
Caffeine-free ones: fruit teas, rooibos and many herbal infusions. Green, black and white teas and matcha contain caffeine, so they aren't suitable for young children.
Does tea for children need sweetening?
Many fruit teas already have a natural sweetness from the dried fruit. If you do sweeten it, use a little and try to reduce the amount gradually.
What age is right for a tea workshop?
Stories and smell games are enjoyed from nursery age. From school age, children can make the tea themselves, under adult supervision.
Organising an event for children or a school activity? Write to us about an interactive workshop on the history of tea.