The Day Tea Was Invented

I have found it absolutely amazing that there are records and information on the day tea was invented.  The man to be credited is the Chinese Emperor Shen Nong in 2737 B.C. The emperor believed that drinking boiled water contributed to good health.  (Which I have heard to be true even to this day.)  On one summer day while traveling his entourage stopped for a rest.  His servants began to boil their water when dried leaves from a nearby camellia bush fell into the boiling water.  The emperor found it to have a pleasing aroma so he drank the infusion and discovered it was refreshing and had a delightful flavor.  That was when tea was invented, but it was considered a medical beverage.  Around 300 A.D. was when it first became a daily drink.

We can only imagine how pleased he must have been to have tasted this new brew after drinking boiled water for years.   



Tea eventually became elevated to an art.  During the mid-Tang Dynasty (780 A.D.) a scholar named Lu Yu published the first definitive book, Cha Ching or the Tea Classic.  This was after he spent over 20 years studying the planting, processing, tasting and brewing tea.

During those early days of tea drinking you might have used cups such as these. 

Between the Yuan and Qing Dynasties tea houses and other tea-drinking establishments were opening up all over China.  by 900 A.D., tea drinking spread from China to Japan where the Japanese Tea Ceremony or Chanoyu, was created.

peach design represents longevity

In Japan, tea was elevated to an art form which requires years of dedicated studying.  Unlike the Japanese people, the Chinese people tend to view tea drinking as a form of enjoyment.


Tea was introduced to Europe in the 1600's and introduced to England in 1669.  The drink was enjoyed only by the aristocracy because a pound of tea cost an average British laborer the equivalent of nine months wages.


Aren't we fortunate to live today when tea is readily available to everyone.  I'm not sure how many different kinds of tea there are.  I'll have to save that search for another day.  I know I've use tea for medicinal purposes and of course most of us dieters are aware of the positive effects of green tea for weight loss.  

Have a cup of tea and enjoy your day ~




source:

www.chcp.org