Just some Google factoids. I did verify the etymology of British tea
terms once. The history of tea in Europe is nothing more than the
history to the Dutch and British East Indies trading companies.
Shipping records are still available from the first voyages in the
17th century and insurance records from Lloyds of London in 18th
century. Early imports of mainland oolongs in 1860's were replaced by
Formosa oolong by end of the century.

Jim

(Gyorgy Sajo) wrote in message . com>...
> (Space Cowboy) wrote in message m>...
> > Tea fermentation methods were established in China by 1600. The
> > Portuguese in the late 1500's in China describe it as a 'chaw'
> > ingested orally and not infused. Black tea was used in 1600's to
> > survive 18 month sea trips. A 1660 newspaper advertisement describes
> > it a leaf with humidity removed by drying in the shade and stored in
> > iron skillets. The English terms Bohea for black tea and Hyson
> > meaning green tea was used by 1700. When black tea drinking became
> > popular in Europe it became popular in China. By the 1860's and
> > Clipper ships voyage of 100 days oolong is brought to England.
> >
> > Jim
> >
>
> Great info, thank you. Do you mind if I ask you about your sources? I
> am not mistrustful, but I have not yet found a good and detailed book
> about the history of the tea in Europe. I could not find any detailed
> information about which kind of teas were imported to Europe since
> 1610 and in the following two centuries.
>
> > Tea fermentation methods were established in China by 1600.
>
> Does it apply to semifermented teas like oolong, too? I would love to
> know, where and when those teas first appeared in China.
>
> BTW it is interesting, that while you can read a lot about the history
> of green tea in China, there are scarce informations - if any - about
> the origins and the history of oolong, black/red and puerh teas.
>
> Thank you,
> Gyorgy