The Other Tea Parties You Were Never Taught
Ten forgotten tea protests that prove tea has always meant more than flavor.
Tea doesn’t just steep.
It stirs. It signals. It speaks.
And in colonial America, it shouted.
You’ve heard of the Boston Tea Party. Everyone has.
It’s the story where a bunch of colonists dressed up, climbed aboard a ship, and turned a harbor into a giant teacup. But here’s what most people don’t know. Boston wasn’t the only one. Not even close.
There were more.
Ten, at least, that carried the same spark. Just in different harbors, on different porches, under different stars.
Here’s how it all brewed up.
Ten Tea Rebellions That History Forgot
1. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tea Party
A British tea ship approached. Locals met, rallied, and refused to let it dock.
No dumping. No drama. Just a solid, collective no.
2. Charleston, South Carolina Tea Party
The tea arrived, but no one bought it. Instead, it sat untouched in a damp cellar for years.
A quiet protest, sealed in dust.
3. Annapolis, Maryland Tea Party
The ship Peggy Stewart showed up with tea on board. People were furious.
To make things right, the owner burned the entire ship. Tea included.
Smoke filled the sky. Message received.
4. Greenwich, New Jersey Tea Party
Some loyalists tried to hide tea in a basement. Locals found it and lit it up.
Fire, ash, and freedom in the night air.
5. New York City Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty had their own moment.
They dumped tea into the Hudson River.
Same rage as Boston. Different harbor. Same ripple effect.
6. York, Maine Tea Party
They blocked the tea before it touched land.
Sometimes protest looks like prevention.
7. Wilmington, North Carolina Tea Party
It was a powerful display of women’s political engagement and economic sacrifice.
Local women held a solemn procession and publicly burned tea to protest British taxation, showing early resistance leading up to the Revolution.
8. Falmouth, Massachusetts Tea Party
Tea shipments arrived, but no one budged.
Locals refused to sell it, drink it, or even acknowledge it.
Rebellion by stillness.
9. Providence, Rhode Island Tea Party
The town took a vow. No more British tea.
Not with fire, but with quiet, unwavering conviction.
10. New Haven, Connecticut Tea Party
Tea merchants were met with silence. The community responded with cold shoulders instead of hot kettles.
No orders. No sales. No acceptance.
What Happened Next Changed Everything
If you tried to sell tea, your reputation took a hit. And back then, that meant everything
These protests didn’t just make headlines. They reshaped culture.
Before all this, tea was the daily drink. Morning, noon, and night. But when tea became a symbol of empire, Americans found something else. Something that wasn’t tied to the crown.
They turned to coffee.
It wasn’t about the taste. It was about the choice. Tea meant British. Coffee meant different. It was a drink of independence, even if no one said it out loud.
And generations later, the shift stuck.
Most American kids didn’t grow up with kettles singing in the morning. They woke up to the smell of a coffee pot. Cafés didn’t ask if you wanted green or black. They asked how many pumps of syrup.
The ritual changed. The flavor changed. But the idea stayed the same. What you drink says something.
Tea Is Having a Moment Again
Now, tea is stepping back into the spotlight. Not as a copy of tradition. Not as a trend. But as a new kind of ritual.
This time it’s about intention. Wellness. Bold flavor and full presence. It’s about drinking something that makes you feel alive and doesn’t ask you to compromise.
At Rare Brew, we’re not here to relive the past. We’re here to remix it. We make loose leaf tea and zero-proof sparkling tea for people who want to feel damn good, fully present, and never on autopilot.
We believe every drink tells a story. Every ritual holds power. And every choice, even the ones that feel small, can be a form of freedom. If you’re ready to start your loose-leaf tea journey, try the Full House Loose Leaf Sampler and taste one of each of our flavors.
Drink What Matters
Ten towns said no. Not because they hated tea, but because they loved what it stood for before it was taxed and politicized.
They saw tea as connection. Conversation. Ceremony. And when it stopped meaning that, they lit a match.
Now we’re sipping something different. Something wildly delicious. And we’re raising our glasses to the ones who made space for us to choose.
This isn’t just about tea. It never was.
It’s about what happens when people stop settling and start sipping with intention.
So go ahead. Pour something good.
And remember, every glass is a chance to choose your story.