History
Tea has its origin in China where it was originally used for medicinal
purposes only before it became a staple drink in every household.
Although there are many legends about the discovery of tea, one of
the better known tells the story of Shen Nung (2737 B.C.), emperor,
scholar and herbalist who he was sitting beneath a tree one day,
boiling his drinking water, when a leaf from the tree dropped into the
water, infusing it. Curious Shen Nung tasted the brew and found it
not only pleasant tasting, but also very stimulating. The tree under
which Shen Nung was sitting was in fact a tea tree.
About 1200 years ago, Buddhist monks brought tea from China to
Japan. Zen Buddhism turned the mundane practice of drinking tea
into a spiritual practice and formalized tea ceremonies which had a
major impact on the spiritual and aesthetic culture of Japan.
Dried and compressed into cakes or bricks, tea was also used as a
trade item and traveled across the orient. Tibetans, Mongolians,
Arabs and Turkish merchants as well bartered for tea. It was not
until the 17th century, though, before tea arrived in the West via
land into Russia and via sea to Holland from where it spread quickly
throughout Europe. England entered the scene around 1650, when
the East India Company brought in its first shipment. Since importing
tea from China was an expensive undertaking, in 1820 England
began growing tea its own colony of India and later in Ceylon, now
Sri Lanka.
Today, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world next
to water. Whether served hot or iced, it is increasingly gaining in
popularity as a healthy everyday drink.
Tea has its origin in China where it was originally used for medicinal
purposes only before it became a staple drink in every household.
Although there are many legends about the discovery of tea, one of
the better known tells the story of Shen Nung (2737 B.C.), emperor,
scholar and herbalist who he was sitting beneath a tree one day,
boiling his drinking water, when a leaf from the tree dropped into the
water, infusing it. Curious Shen Nung tasted the brew and found it
not only pleasant tasting, but also very stimulating. The tree under
which Shen Nung was sitting was in fact a tea tree.
About 1200 years ago, Buddhist monks brought tea from China to
Japan. Zen Buddhism turned the mundane practice of drinking tea
into a spiritual practice and formalized tea ceremonies which had a
major impact on the spiritual and aesthetic culture of Japan.
Dried and compressed into cakes or bricks, tea was also used as a
trade item and traveled across the orient. Tibetans, Mongolians,
Arabs and Turkish merchants as well bartered for tea. It was not
until the 17th century, though, before tea arrived in the West via
land into Russia and via sea to Holland from where it spread quickly
throughout Europe. England entered the scene around 1650, when
the East India Company brought in its first shipment. Since importing
tea from China was an expensive undertaking, in 1820 England
began growing tea its own colony of India and later in Ceylon, now
Sri Lanka.
Today, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world next
to water. Whether served hot or iced, it is increasingly gaining in
popularity as a healthy everyday drink.
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"Tea-d-bits" - History of Tea
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