Today millions of people world over enjoy and drink Tea for its various health reasons. It is impossible to think of a world without Tea.

The word “Tea”

Originally the Chinese called it “Kia”. On its arrival in the West it became Té which is still the name for tea in many countries.

How was Tea Discovered

It is in China in 2737BC when the story of Tea began. It is said by Legends that tea was discovered by the Chinese Emperor, Shan Nong, in 2737 B.C.

The Emperor normally used to boil his drinking water. When he was in his garden one day, a few tea leaves fell into his boiling water which gave off a rich aroma.

When the emperor drank this brew, he found it to be refreshing.

He asked his people to plan that tea bushes in his palace garden.

This is how the custom of brewing fresh tea leaves in hot water began and this spread quickly.

No one is sure if the Emperor really existed, or if he was simply a mythbut Tea was popular in China before it was exported to the Western world.

Arrival of Tea in the West

We all like to believe that Tea is a very British drink but it was thousands of years before Tea ever reached Europe.

The Dutch were the ones who first brought Tea into Europe and then came to England.

When in 1662 Catherine of Braganza arrived from Portugal to marry King Charles II, she bought along with her a casket of her tasty Tea.

Tea today is the 2nd most popular drink after water.