The History of Chinese Tea

The History of Chinese Tea

The History of Chinese Tea

Originally used for ritual use, it didn't take long for Chinese tea to develop into the favorite drink that it is today. Myth has it that Chinese tea was invented over 4000 years ago when the Emperor Yan Di was experimenting with different plants to find ones that could be used for medicinal purposes. He accidently poisoned himself and was near death when he was saved by the miracle of tea. A drop of water fell from a tea tree and made its' way into the Emperor's mouth. Yan Di was miraculously saved and tea became the elixir of Deities, used for rituals and healing.

More plausible is the story that tea was discovered by the Chinese Emperor Shennong in 2737 BCE. According to this version, the Emperor was boiling water underneath a tea tree when a leaf fell from the tree and into his boiling water. No matter which story one prefers, the fact is that tea is now enjoyed the world over.

What is known for certain is that the first historical recorded use of tea dates back to Ancient China in the Western Zhou Period. During this period tea was used as a ritual offering to Deities and the emperor. It didn't take long for Chinese tea to start being used as a food source. They chewed the fresh leaves. Tea leaves were cooked as a vegetable.

Tea didn't gain recognition as a drink until the Tang Dynasty. During this time, the first tea shops appear in history. Lu Yu completed his book, Tea Classics. This book, though small in size, was the first book dedicated to tea. It included a breakdown of different types of tea, growing hints and brewing recipes. It was during this time that tea became a political bargaining chip. The Emperor put tight controls on the manufacturing of tea, making it illegal for unauthorized people to grow and sell it.

Tea eventually made its' way from China to Japan by way of Buddhist monks. Arabic monks found their way to China during the Song Dynasty. The Arabs traded tea with Africa and Southeast Asia. Tea finally made its way to Europe in 1610, when a Dutch merchant ship brought tea to England.

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