Why did tea get invested with a lot of political meaning during the 1760s and 1770s?

During the 1760s and 1770s, tea became a symbol of resistance against British taxation and control in the American colonies, particularly following the introduction of the Tea Act in 1773. This legislation granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales, provoking outrage as it was seen as an infringement on colonial autonomy and rights. The Boston Tea Party in 1773, where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor in protest, exemplified how tea transcended its status as a beverage to become a potent symbol of the struggle for independence and self-governance. As a result, tea was deeply intertwined with the political discourse of the time, representing both colonial defiance and unity against British oppression.