The Dutch were the first people who introduced tea to Europe in the late 16th and early 17th century, and began to impinge on Portuguese trading routes in the East. The Dutch had developed a trading post on the island of Java, Indonesia, and it was through this that the first consignment loaded with tea was shipped to Holland in 1606. Tea became a luxurious drink among the Dutch, and hence the fever of tea spread to other parts of Europe. However, it remained as a beverage for the wealthy due to its high price.
By this time the British had colonies all over the world, and it is said that sailors and merchants importing goods for the British East India Company brought tea home to Britain. However, a turn in the beverage’s fortune in Britain came through the marriage of Charles II to Catherine of Braganza, a Portuguese princess. She was known to have a soft corner for the delicious drink, which resulted in tea becoming a fashionable drink at court and among the aristocracy. After this turning point, the East Indian Company started to import tea into Britain in 1664. With the emerging coffee-house culture, tea flourished as a suitable option for beverage in British society and since then has become a large part of British culture, with British people being one of the highest consumers of Tea.