The origin of tea in China is credited to the legendary Emperor Shennong, who is said to have lived in the most ancient era of Chinese history. According to legend, tea was first discovered by the Chinese emperor and inventor Shennong in 2737 BCE. At the end of that period his legs had withered away and, just on the verge of reaching enlightenment, he fell asleep. In the centuries following the publication of Yu's work, tea's popularity spread rapidly throughout China. Dried leaves from a nearby bush fell into the boiling water, and a brown substance was infused into the water. The British introduced tea production, as well as tea consumption, to India, in order to compete with the Chinese monopoly on tea. Chinese people later became accustomed to drinking steeped tea from leaves after the Yuan Dynasty and continue to drink it this way today. Drinking tea became popular in Britain during the 17th century. In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), tea drinking became an art form and a drink enjoyed by all social classes. Later, teahouses began dotting the landscape. Benefits, Uses, & Recipes, What Is Sencha Green Tea? According to legend, one fall afternoon, Shennong decided to take a rest under a Camellia tree and boiled some water to drink. His far-sighted edicts required, among other things, that all drinking water be boiled as a hygienic precaution. The history of Chinese tea is a long and gradual story of refinement. Lu Yu (Chinese: 陆羽), author of The Book of Tea, was an orphan brought up and educated in a monastery. Copyright © China.org.cn. Ancient Chinese Tea History and Fascinating Facts. And white tea, made with unripened tea leaves that are still covered with a downy, silvery fuzz, is becoming quite popular. The history of tea spreads across multiple cultures over the span of thousands of years. Ancient folklore placed the creation of the brew at 2737 BC when a camellia blossom drifted into a cup of boiled drinking water belonging to Emperor Shen Nung. Since Shennong's discovery, tea has been grown and enjoyed throughout the world. It is said that the emperor liked his drinking water boiled before he drank it so it would be clean, so that is what his servants did. One day, on a trip to a distant region, he and his army stopped to rest. The practice of drinking tea has a long history in China. For this reason, many monasteries cultivated vast tea fields. For example, only water from a slow-moving stream was acceptable, and the tea leaves had to be placed in a porcelain cup. There he meditated while sat facing a wallfor nine long years. With a little practice, it's easy to brew the perfect cup of tea. Ancient folklore placed the creation of the brew at 2737 BC when a camellia blossom drifted into a cup of boiled drinking water belonging to Emperor Shen Nung. The popular legend says tea was discovered by Emperor Shennong in ancient China. Shennong was famous for his wise edicts, and one such edict required that people boil their water before they drink it. Popularization in the Far East. The Spruce Eats uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. (Another interesting side effect for smokers is that tea hastens the discharge of nicotine from the body.) Not only did tea drinking become a fitting subject for books and poems; Emperors bestowed gifts of tea upon grateful recipients. Benefits, Uses, & Recipes. Shennong (Chinese: 神农), whose name means the Divine Farmer -- and who is considered as the ancient Chinese Father of Agriculture, is … Whatever the legend, tracing tea's original roots proves difficult. Originally, tea was valued for its medicinal qualities. Tea became a popular drink in Buddhist monasteries after the caffeine proved to keep the monks awake during long hours of meditation. Enraged at missing this last step, he ripped off hi… The highly esteemed poet and former Buddhist priest had strict notions about the proper procedure for brewing, steeping, and serving tea. However, most scholars credit a reference found in Erh Ya, an ancient Chinese dictionary, dated about 350 BC. Tea aficionados are often surprised to learn that all tea comes from the same source: the Camellia Sinensis bush. In The Book of Tea, Lu Yu recorded a detailed account of ways to cultivate and prepare tea, tea drinking customs, the best water for tea brewing and different classifications of tea. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. Then, tea leaves were eaten as a vegetable, or used in medicine. The best known among these is jasmine tea. And so, according to legend, tea was created in 2737 BC. All Rights Reserved. The first tea used in England originated in China, and it wasn’t until the 19th century that tea growing spread to Formosa and that indigenous tea was discovered in Assam. Generations of growers and producers have perfected the Chinese way of manufacturing tea, and its many unique regional variations. Benefits, Uses, & Recipes, What Is Black Tea? A story goes that, one summer day, while visiting a distant part of his realm, he and the court stopped to rest. While there are hundreds are varieties of Chinese teas, most fall into four basic categories: There is also a fifth category known as "scented teas," made by mixing various flowers and petals with green or oolong teas. During the Sui Dynasty (581-618), tea was used for its medicinal qualities. Benefits, Uses, & Recipes, What Is Green Tea? This led to the discovery of tea. It's hard to exaggerate the importance of tea in Chinese culture. Whipped powdered tea became fashionable during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), but disappeared completely from Chinese culture after the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), when many other aspects of Song culture were erased during foreign rule. Tea drinking began as early as 1500 BC in the Yunnan Province of China. Although the first tea was discovered in China, several other areas of the world now contribute to the overall tea harvest. As a scientist, the Emperor was interested in the new liquid, drank some, and found it very refreshing. By using The Spruce Eats, you accept our, What Is White Tea? In the beginning, tea was used in ritual offerings. The elevation of tea drinking to an art form began in the 8th century, with the publication of Lu Yu's "The Classic Art of Tea." Rhonda Parkinson is a freelance writer who has authored many cookbooks, including two Everything guides to Chinese cooking. It is … Until the Han Dynasty more than 2,000 years ago, tea was a new drink. The perfect milieu for enjoying the finished product was in a pavilion next to a water lily pond, preferably in the company of a desirable woman. In the fourth and fifth centuries, rice, salt, spices, ginger and orange peel, among other ingredients, were added to tea. Shennong (Chinese: 神农), whose name means the Divine Farmer -- and who is considered as the ancient Chinese Father of Agriculture, is honored with the discovery of tea. It has long been known that tea aids in digestion, which is why many Chinese prefer to consume it after their meal. And budding fortune-tellers who eschew tea bags can hone their skills in the art of tasseomancy (reading tea leaves). Intrigued by the delightful fragrance, Shennong took a sip and found it refreshing. Benefits, Uses, & Recipes, 14 Tea Recipes You Can Easily Brew Up at Home, The 8 Best Tea Subscription Boxes of 2020, What Is Ceylon Tea? While references to tea in Chinese literature go back approximately 5,000 years, the origin of tea's use as a beverage is unclear. In The Art of Tea Drinking, Olivia Yang opens with the words: "The Chinese people are without a doubt the ones who best understand the nature of tea." In both Chinese and Japanese tradition, the discovery of tea is credited to the Indian sage Bodhidharma (aka Daruma), the founder of Zen Buddhism. In accordance with his ruling, the servants began to boil water for the court to drink. The Origins of Tea While references to tea in Chinese literature go back approximately 5,000 years, the origin of tea's use as a beverage is unclear. The practice of drinking tea has a long history in China. While most of us have neither a pavilion nor a lily pond conveniently situated in our backyard, we can still indulge our penchant for this centuries-old beverage. In 1839, the first Indian tea was sold in London. Bodhidharma, travelling to spread the word of his new doctrine, founded the Shaolin temple in southern China (Shorinji to the Japanese). The original idea is credited to the legendary Emperor Shennong, who is said to have lived 5 000 years ago. Make your favorite takeout recipes at home with our cookbook! Dried leaves from the tree above floated down into the pot of boiling water and infused with the water, creating a pot of tea, marking the first ever infusion of the tea leaf. It first became known to western civilization through Portuguese priests and merchants in Lebanon during the 16th century. While the Chinese have never developed a ritualistic ceremony surrounding tea drinking resembling the Japanese tea ceremony, they have a healthy respect for its role in their daily lives. It is likely that his experience growing up surrounded by tea inspired his book written during the Tang Dynasty. (To be fair, his work also contained several practical tips for manufacturing tea, many of which are still in use today). At various points throughout history, China's national drink has been designated as the state currency and used as cash.

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