Tea comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and can be processed and cured using a variety of methods. There are many different types of teas, including black, green, white, oolong and post-fermented varieties. Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water and continues to be a beverage of choice, as the flavonoids and polyphenols are cancer-fighting and immunity-boosting. Tea is also known to increase the metabolism and lower the risk for heart disease. But these facts are nothing new, as tea has been a beverage of choice for centuries.

It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact cultivation of tea, but it’s believed that the leaves were first used to make tea. The plants are native to East and South Asia, and China is the first recorded location that used tea as a beverage. Some of the earliest accounts come from 10th century BC. Tea was also a popular beverage for the Qin Dynasty and Tang Dynasty before gaining popularity in other parts of the world such as Japan and Korea. The admiration of tea spread even further as the Chinese began using tea for trading purposes in the 19th century.

According to Chinese legend, the Chinese Emperor, Shen Nong, discovered tea on his own, accidentally. The emperor was a scientist, herbalist, scholar and art-enthusiast all in one, and he believed that drinking warm, boiled water was ideal for hygiene. He had his servants boil his water before drinking to ensure its safety, and one day while drinking the water, tea leaves made their way into his cup. 

The emperor was embarking on a journey to a distant region, and when he sat down to rest and was served his drink, leaves from a nearby plant accidentally dropped into his drink. The concoction had a delightful taste and upon drinking, the emperor felt rejuvenated. The emperor declared that tea gave the body vitality, and this is when the beverage began its rich history as a medicinal beverage and then a social drink.

During the 16th century, tea was imported to Europe and was given the name of cha. It replaced ale in popularity, which was the national drink of England at the time. In fact, by the turn of the century, Englishmen had gone from drinking 40,000 pounds of tea to 240,000 pounds. By 1750, tea gurus traveled from China to other locations and planted tea plants in various places.

Although tea had been a status symbol that was reserved for special occasions, by the 1800s, the beverage was being consumed by all individuals. Since the water was boiled, it was safe to drink, and the warm liquid made cold nights more bearable. It was at this time that warm tea rivaled beer in popularity, even with poorer families. In the mid-1800s, tea then gained its afternoon slot in the English culture. 

Before this point, tea was ordered by men and women after dinner when they sat in the drawing room. By 1860, these same individuals were drinking tea at 5 o’clock, establishing an afternoon ritual and social meeting time. This event became a standard practice, and in the late 1870s, women wore a special tea gown to the afternoon tea sessions. Not only was this practice intended to bring people together, but it was also designed to keep the stomach full in between the lunch and dinner hours. 

By the 1900s, tea was being sold commercially and a four-sided tea bag was invented in the 1950s.The beverage continued to evolve, as iced tea was discovered during a heat wave in St. Louis, while small silk bags led to the invention of tea bags. Green tea also became a popular drink choice and outsold black tea by five times during the 1900s. Today, the majority of tea comes from China and Sri Lanka, and is enjoyed in a variety of flavors.