When did tea first arrive in Britain?

* 1657: The first recorded mention of tea in England was in a letter written by a merchant named Thomas Garway, who described it as a "Chinese drink" that was "very refreshing."

* 1660s: Tea became more widely available and began to be consumed by the upper classes.

* 1662: King Charles II and his Portuguese wife Catherine of Braganza were both avid tea drinkers, which helped to popularize tea in Britain.

It's worth noting that tea was initially quite expensive and seen as a luxury. It took a few decades for it to become a common drink for the general population.