History of the Tea

Origins in China (2737 BCE)

Tea is believed to have originated in China during the reign of Emperor Shen Nong around 2737 BCE. According to legend, the emperor discovered tea when some leaves from a wild tea tree blew into his pot of boiling water. Shen Nong, a renowned herbalist, enjoyed the refreshing taste and health benefits of the brew, marking the beginning of tea’s long history.

Early Use in China (Han to Tang Dynasties)

By the time of the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE), tea had become a popular medicinal drink, used for its health benefits. It was first consumed in loose leaf form, but during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), tea drinking evolved into a refined cultural activity. The Chinese began steaming and pressing the leaves into cakes for easier transport, and tea was often consumed in powdered form.

The Tang Dynasty is also notable for the publication of the “Classic of Tea” (Cha Jing) by Lu Yu in the 8th century, the first definitive work on tea culture and its preparation.

Introduction to Japan (8th Century)

Tea was introduced to Japan by Buddhist monks who traveled to China. It played a significant role in the development of Japanese Zen Buddhist rituals and later became the basis for the Japanese tea ceremony (Chanoyu). Matcha, powdered green tea, became a central element of this ceremonial tradition.

Spread to Other Asian Countries

From China, tea spread to neighboring countries like Korea and Vietnam, where it became integrated into local cultures and rituals. In these early centuries, tea remained primarily a luxury item for the elite classes.

Introduction to Europe (16th–17th Century)

Tea made its way to Europe during the 16th century through Portuguese and Dutch traders. The Dutch East India Company began importing tea to Europe in the early 1600s. By the mid-17th century, tea became a fashionable drink among the European aristocracy, particularly in England.

In 1662, tea culture in England was firmly established when Catherine of Braganza, the Portuguese wife of King Charles II, introduced the habit of tea drinking to the English court.

Tea and British Colonialism (18th–19th Century)

During the 18th century, tea became widely consumed across Britain, giving rise to the British tradition of afternoon tea. As demand grew, the British East India Company began importing vast quantities of tea from China.

The British were unhappy with their dependence on Chinese tea, which led to one of the most infamous chapters in tea history—the Opium Wars. In the early 19th century, the British began trading opium (grown in India) to China in exchange for tea, leading to widespread addiction in China and eventually sparking the Opium Wars (1839–42, 1856–60), which dramatically altered global trade relations.

Tea Cultivation in India and Sri Lanka

To break China’s monopoly on tea, the British began cultivating tea in India. In the 1830s, they discovered indigenous tea plants in Assam and later established large tea plantations in Assam and Darjeeling. This marked the beginning of India as a major tea producer.

In the mid-19th century, Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) also became an important tea-growing region after a blight wiped out the island’s coffee plantations. Ceylon tea quickly gained fame for its unique flavor.

The Role of Tea in American History

In the American colonies, tea was a symbol of British culture until the Boston Tea Party in 1773, when American colonists protested against British taxes by dumping a shipment of tea into Boston Harbor. This event was a pivotal moment in the lead-up to the American Revolution.

20th Century and Beyond

In the 20th century, tea became more accessible to the masses with the invention of tea bags by American merchant Thomas Sullivan in 1908. This innovation, along with the mass production of iced tea (which became popular in the U.S. during the 1904 World’s Fair), made tea even more convenient and popular.

Today, tea is enjoyed in various forms—black, green, oolong, white, and herbal—across the world. China, India, Sri Lanka, and Kenya are some of the largest tea-producing countries. Tea traditions have become deeply embedded in the cultures of many countries, from the Japanese tea ceremony to British afternoon tea, continuing to evolve while preserving its historical roots.

Key Points in Tea History

• 2737 BCE: Legendary origin of tea in China.
• 618–907 CE (Tang Dynasty): Refinement of tea culture in China.
• 8th century: Introduction of tea to Japan.
• 17th century: Tea introduced to Europe via Portuguese and Dutch traders.
• 1662: Tea becomes fashionable in England.
• 1830s: Tea cultivation begins in India.
• 1773: Boston Tea Party protests against British tea taxes.
• 1908: Introduction of tea bags by Thomas Sullivan.