In Every Cup of Tea is a Rich History

Whenever you take sip from that fresh hot cup of tea have you ever stopped to think about its origins? Do you have an idea how old the practice of tea drinking is, or where in the world you can find the most avid tea drinkers? Tea is harvested from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, a shrub that grows in many tropical climates. Tea is well known as a very valuable commodity, and that many Asian nations are reputed for producing tea by the tons and shipping them to the west. Take a short trip through time and learn about the history of one of the favorite beverages in the world.

History of Chinese Tea

China has been drinking tea for many ages. During the Tang Dynasty from the 4th to 6th centuries, tea was a drink that served medicinal purposes as well as provided a pleasure for the senses. During this time, there were sources that narrate how the Chinese used paper bags delicately sewn together for preserving the fine flavors of teas. In the Tang Dynasty, tea was even used in trade, as well as for offerings to ancestors and dignitaries. The widespread use of tea expanded on to the Song Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty, in which varieties were developed and the tea making process was greatly enhanced.

History of Tea in India

During the 1820’s to the 1830’s, tea plants were found along the borders of India by British explorers. Sources say that this was influenced by prior knowledge of the successful tea industry in the Chinese economy. Notable persons in this effort were Robert and Charles Bruce. Later on, more tea plants were cultivated, and so many famous teas of Indian origin, such as Assam tea, Darjeeling tea, and Nilgiri tea. Darjeeling tea has been given the title as the Champagne of all black teas, as it is in high demand in the United Kingdom and United States. The Indian tea flavors are rich and fruity, and the tea is aromatic. As of the present, more than 2 million people in India work in tea plantations.

History of Ceylon Tea

Sri Lanka, the nation formerly named Ceylon, is a nation located near the southern tip of India. Originally, the nation focused on coffee production to power their economy. But during the 1800’s the fungus Hemileia vastatrix afflicted the Ceylon coffee crops and destroyed them. For this reason, the Ceylon people saw black tea cultivation as a profitable industry, and so it boomed from the 1870’s to the 1890’s. This was attributed to the efforts of James Taylor, a British businessman who learned tea growing in India. He later teamed up with Irishman Thomas Lipton to develop the tea industry in Sri Lanka. Hence, the world famous Lipton tea which is popular until today began.

Notes on Some Herbal Teas

Herbal teas, by definition, do not come from the leaves of Camellia sinensis and are thus not true "teas." They should not be considered as tea in the traditional sense, but infusions or tisanes. Herbal tea is made from roots, leaves, or flowers which are dried, and various plants like lemongrass, ginger, jasmine, chrysanthemum, rose, and others are used. Today the term "tea" is commonly used in reference to any making of a liquor or drink out of leaves, fruits, and herbs.