The Origin

Tea has the distinction of being the most ancient beverage in the world. Its story can be traced back some 5,000 years! And there are many different legends associated with the discovery of this spiritual beverage.

The Chinese believe that tea was discovered by Emperor Shen-Nung in the year 2737 BC. A firm believer in hygienic precautions, he always boiled his drinking water. One day, while he was doing just that during a hunting trip, a few leaves from a nearby bush fell into the water. The leaves imparted to the water such an exquisite and delicate aroma that the Emperor was tempted to sip it. He felt so refreshed and invigorated by the beverage that he introduced it to his court. Thus was tea discovered.

The Indians, however, attribute the discovery of tea to the saintly Darma Bodhivista, a Buddhist, monk who had devoted seven years of his life to sleepless contemplation of the Buddha. In the first year, he was assailed by drowsiness. In desperation, he plucked a few leaves from a nearby bush and started chewing on them.

This revived his energy and he was able to complete his self-imposed vigil. Needless to say, the leaves were those of the tea plant.

The Japanese have a slightly different version of this tale. They assert that when Darma felt the urge to sleep, there was no stimulating tea plant at hand or in existence. Instead, the saint, in order to prevent his eyelids from closing, tore them off and tossed them away on the ground. To his amazement, up sprang two handsome tea bushes!

Whatever the legend, it is an established fact that the habit of tea drinking began some 3,000 years ago in the Szechuan Province in China.