George Washington's Tea
George Washington's tea was always the finest available. His first recorded tea order was for six pounds of the finest Hyson tea and six pounds of the finest green tea from England.
Poster His breakfast at Mount Vernon was routinely three cups of tea, no cream or sugar--the correct way to drink green tea, and three hoecakes made from Indian cornmeal with honey and butter.
According to Tea with Presidential Families, other orders for both Mount Vernon and his Philadelphia residence included Hyson, Young Hyson, Congo, Bohea, Gunpowder Green, Imperial, and Green tea. George Washington drank tea regularly before the American Revolutionary War, after the Boston Tea Party (remember, the issue was taxes, not tea), while he was the commanding general during the war, and during his presidency, as did almost all Americans. It is estimated that Americans at the time of the American Revolution drank more tea per capita than any other nation on earth, at times averaging 10 pounds of tea yearly for every man, woman, and child. While he was General of the Army during the war, George Washington's tea continued to be of the highest quality. In the book George Washington's Expense Account, records show that he purchased tea costing over $20 a pound (calculated to 1970 prices). Other purchases of tea were divided among officers of his army.
After he became the first American President, tea was always served for state occasions. George and Martha Washington brought several complete teasets with them to the Presidency, as well as tea boards, tea tables, tea chests, silver teaspoons, and a silver-plated tea urn. You can see photos of President Washington's teapots in Tea with Presidential Families above. You can enjoy reading sample menus and invitations for all American Presidents in The President's Table.
Green tea varieties: Dragon Well | Mao Feng |
Matcha | Gunpowder Green |
Pi Lo Chun | Gyokuro |
Lu shan Yun Wu | Japanese Sencha |
Lu An Melon Seed | Jasmine |
Blooming Tea | Chun Mee | Flavored Green | Organic Green Tea
| Estate Green Tea
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