The drink soon became popular as an alternative to coffee, and by the year 1700, there were over 500 coffee houses in the British capital selling the new drink.
In those days however, it was not something for anyone; the cost of a pound of tea in the year 1700 (up to 36 shillings a pound) was almost the same as it was in 1985 (average: £1.80 a pound).... but in 1700, a working man earned one shilling a week, compared to £140 in 1985!