The Origin of Tea

Tea has long been touted for its healthful properties and according to some scholars may be the most commonly drunk beverage in the world after water.

Legend credits the origin of the tea infusion to leaves form a tea tree falling by accident into drinking water intended for the Chinese emperor, Shen Nung in 2737.

Tea is clearly healthful, because the water used to prepare it is boiled. The medicinal roles of tea in the 21st century include use to alleviate the common cold and various infections, and tea may have a role in preventing or fighting cancer of the esophagus, lung, stomach.

Teas are botanically classified as Camellia sinensis, which are teas from China and Camellia assamica, which are teas that originated from plants in the Assam region of northern India.

There are varying legends as to whether tea originated in India or in China.

Some scholars believe in the jungles of the Assam province of India. Some claim it had earliest beginnings in the Fukien province while suggest native to Szechuan province.

The plant has been cultivated so long and so widely in South China that at present it is difficult to ascertain its geographical origin from wild plants in the natural vegetation.

There was a suggestion that after reviewing ancient records, that the used of tea started in Szechuan and was introduced to central Chin after the Ch’in conquered Shu, in the fourth century BC.

In the year 350 AD, tea is growing along the Yangtze River in Szechuan province.

The earliest record of tea cultivation and consumption is found in ancient Chinese literature dating back to 1100 BC.

Tea consumption evolved into part of Chinese religious symbolism and culture – the first monograph on tea, written about 780 AD, was called Ch’a Ching, or Tea Scripture.

In 727 AD, tea is presented to Emperor Shomu as an official gift from Chinese T’ang Court, Tea’s then spread to Japan.
The Origin of Tea