The History of Tea

Tea is one of the oldest beverages known to civilization. It is believed that tea was first discovered as a beverage in 2737 BC. As legend goes, the Chinese Emperor, Shen Nung, sat serenely by a pot of boiling water when leaves from a wild tea bush flew into the kettle. To his delight, it tasted wonderful, and he never again drank plain boiled water.

Tea gradually became established as China's national drink and a valuable commodity with which to trade. It's popularity spread to Japan, where the elaborate Japanese tea ceremony evolved, and the rest of the Far East. The modern term 'tea' derives from early Chinese dialect words -- such as Tchai, Cha and Tay -- used both to describe the beverage and the leaf.

Tea Time-Line

• 2737 BC: The Chinese Emperor, Shen Nung discovers tea.
• 850 AD: The first mention of tea outside China and Japan by the Arabs.
• Mid 1500's: Tea first brought to Europe by the Arabs via the Venetians.
• 1615: The first shipment arrives in Venice from Turkey.
• 1683: Coffee reached Vienna. Shortly after, the first Viennese coffee house opened.
• 1773: American colonies revolted against high taxes placed on tea drinking by King George. "The Boston Tea Party" changed drinking habits and coffee became the favourite brew.
• 1904: Iced tea was created at the World's Fair in St. Louis.
• 1908: Thomas Sullivan of New York developed the concept of tea in a bag.
• 1979: Gloria Jean's Coffees opened its first stores