It is important to gather background information on a topic (or object, in this case) before diving into doing research. It can supply context information to give a better understanding of a topic, and it can also be a great way to start developing keywords to use during the research process. Background information on a topic can be gathered from a variety of sources, including textbooks, books, reference materials like encyclopedias, and reputable websites.
Question: What about Wikipedia?
Looking in Oxford Reference for entries related to "TEA," I came across this entry for a tea ceremony.