The History of Tea

It began almost 5,000 years ago in China. The legend says that Emperor Shen Nung rested under a tree after a long journey and boiled some water in a kettle to quench his thirst. When a gust of wind shook a few leaves from the tree and they fell into his cup, Shen Nung noticed that the water changed color and gave off a fascinating aroma. The emperor tasted the drink and felt refreshed and revived. The tree from which the leaf fell was a wild tea tree – tea was born!

The new hot beverage gradually spread throughout China and then to the rest of the world.