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Indeed it is hard to picture a world without tea because it has in many ways defined the world and the way that we define ourselves in this world. It exists as a bridge through both time and space, connecting cultures and markets: spinning the web of globalization. Tea began in China some 4700 years ago and was quickly adopted into the Asian culture. From the various ceremonies that center around tea in Asia, tea became a sought-after commodity throughout Europe soon after it was introduced in the 17th century. It spread throughout Europe and even the early American colonies as it replaced almost every European national drink. Tea trading companies rose up as Europe demanded more and more of the beverage. These companies made fortunes trading in tea with China and India. Ever sine tea has become a part of many European societies and entire colonies were established in order to generate another source for tea export. Today, companies such as The Stash Tea Company cater to a fast-growing American tea market that is slowly turning to tea as an exotic, healthy, and convenient alternative to carbonated beverages and coffee.

We can see a large web of interconnectedness developing through companies such as The Stash Tea Company. The specialty teas that it purchases come from high quality tea plantations in various parts of China, Japan, India, and Sri Lanka. There the tea cultivation industry approaches an art in both its efficiency and the quality of tea that it produces, after all it is a way of life for the people that work at these plantations. After initial processing, the tea is bought and blended. At this point clever marketing spins are put on the product in the form of fancy packaging and displays. The teas are also described as natural, exotic, and healthy, and are eagerly bought up by consumers who are earning for more of this wonder brew. Thus every time that you buy a package of Stash Tea you are in fact connected to people that have been cultivating tea for generations. In a way by drinking this tea you become connected to more than just a bag full of leaves and chemicals: you are connected to an ancient culture and tradition. It is exactly this notion that powers many people living in the US to buy some exotic tea, because it frees their imagination and gives them a chance to visualize something other than the troubles of a busy life. Perhaps this is why tea consumption is on the rise, even if its still mostly in the bottled form in the US. In addition, the proven health benefits of tea drinking help develop a global understanding for tea and its global role in the well being and health of humanity. Lastly, when you drink tea you become a part of the tea-drinking world culture, which spans the globe .
When you drink that cup of tea, regardless of the packaging and the buzz words, and the form of the tea itself, you are in fact partaking in a journey through both time and space... back to the roots of civilization... back to the Middle East... back to the trading ships of Europe... back to the plantation in Sri Lanka, and back through the very biochemistry of existence. This realization is perhaps what underlies the whole notion of globalization: the realization that even though you might have never been to ancient China, or a Darjeeling plantation you can still relate to those places and those times by partaking in a "ceremony" known and practiced by a major part of the world.