How Tea Happened
Legend says that in 2737 BC, tea was discovered accidentally when China’s second Emperor Shen Nung having decreed that for hygienic reasons drinking water should be boiled, was having a drink of boiled water and some leaves were tossed into his cup by the wind. He found the brew refreshing and hence the first ‘cuppa’ was made. Very soon tea was popular throughout the land.

Tea and The Orient
From China, tea made its way to Japan by a Buddhist priest named Yensei where it quickly became popular to the extent that the art of the Tea Ceremony evolved.

Tea made its way about Asia before its appearance in Europe. From Portugal tea was transported to Holland and France and the Baltic lands. It was an expensive beverage and was the center of hot debate about whether or not it was a beneficial tonic, by the scholars of the time. As the controversy carried on for about 30 years, the public largely ignored the talk and continued to drink tea. Tea was popular in France for about 50 years before being surpassed by the preference of wine.

Tea in America
Tea arrived in the USA in the mid 1600s thanks to Peter Stuyvesant in New York (then called New Amsterdam). This group drank more tea than the English. During the 1880s the USA was the biggest importer of tea.

Tea in England
Tea made its appearance in England in the 1660s. During the early 1700s tea became popular during Queen Anne’s sovereignty.

Tea in Russia
1618 the Russian Czar Alexis was presented with chests of tea by Chinese ambassadors. The Czar refused them, but near the end of the century Russia signed a tea treaty and by 1735 tea was popular there too.

According to WikiAnswers.com water is the most popular drink in the world, and tea is the most consumed man-made beverage. Tea is flavoured water, so water has to win outright!

Tea Clip Art for personal use. Right click and save to your machine.









Article and Images Copyright Mina Keenan