06-16-2006, 04:18 PM
I just read a novel which was set in the time of Antoninus Pius and played at the Antonine Wall. When reading a historical novel I always wonder how good the research by the author was esp. if he teaches Ancient History at an university. Since I'd noticed some other mistakes in that book I stumbled of course about the following:
In one scene there was served tea. I know for sure that he of course didn't mean black tea but some kind of a herbal tea, but didn't mention what type. That scene more reminded me of serving the five-o'-clock tea than to drink an infusion of herbs to cure some illness. Therefore I wonder if anyone here could tell me if the Romans and Britons knew herbal tea already and if so, if it was used just for medical treatment or also just for the pleasure to drink something hot like we do nowadays.
In one scene there was served tea. I know for sure that he of course didn't mean black tea but some kind of a herbal tea, but didn't mention what type. That scene more reminded me of serving the five-o'-clock tea than to drink an infusion of herbs to cure some illness. Therefore I wonder if anyone here could tell me if the Romans and Britons knew herbal tea already and if so, if it was used just for medical treatment or also just for the pleasure to drink something hot like we do nowadays.
