A brief history of Tea

Legend has it that a Chinese emperor, Shen Nung, accidentally discovered tea in 2737 BC when a leaf of tea dropped into his bowl of hot water while he was in the garden near the tea tree. The emperor sniffed the fragrant brew, tasted it, and liked what he drank. Thus tea was discovered.

china

Buddhist monks brought tea from China to Japan. Tea's stimulating properties helped the monks to stay awake during meditation, which helped its spread in Japanese culture. Commercial cultivation did not start in Japan until the 12th century. Japan, unlike China, drank its tea ceremoniously. In China small farmers traditionally grew tea, and large traders bought the tea and transported it to distant countries.

Though tea was introduced to Russia as early as 1618 by a Chinese ambassador, regular trade did not develop until the end of the 17th century. In the early 20th century it flourished with the Trans-Siberian railway.

anna

In Europe tea was sold as a medicinal drink in the 1650s. Tea drinking really took hold when Catherine of Bragaza, a Portuguese princess, married Charles II in 1662. She brought tea and served it to friends at court. The tea started being served at what was called tea gardens all over London. Many of the tea gardens closed as people migrated to the suburbs in the 19th century. About the same time Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, started serving tea and snacks to her afternoon guests. This started the fashion of afternoon teatime in Britain. Tea was associated with social functions and was served with great ceremony including the best porcelain tea wares.