Historians believe tea was first used in prehistoric China as medicine as long ago as 2700 B.C. Legends abound around the origin of tea. China, India and Japan – the three major tea-producing/drinking nations - have their own myths, folklore, and beliefs. Chinese legend has it that the leaves of Camellia sinensis (commonly known as tea) dropped into Emperor Shen Nung’s pot of boiling water, which he then tasted and felt a feeling of well-being – and tea happened! This was 5000 years or ago. The fact that 5000 years ago was just the beginning of civilizations – leave alone Empires is a matter for academic debate and it is not within the scope of this article to challenge such assertions. According to the Indian legend, Prince Bodhi Dharma (of which kingdom, it does not say) went to China in the 6^th century AD to preach Buddhism. He had vowed not to sleep for nine years – that was the time frame he gave himself to complete his mission. Towards the end of his third year of self-imposed insomnia, he actually felt drowsy with sleep – and in an act of desperation chewed the leaves of a bush that grew close by. The bush happened to be Camellia sinensis – sorry – tea! He remained awake for the remaining six years with the help of these leaves. Mission accomplished! The Japanese legend maintains that the Prince actually fell asleep after three years (around the same time as he chewed the tea leaves in the Indian story) and was so infuriated with himself at this lack of self-discipline, he cut off his eyelashes – and Camellia sinensis grew out of the soil where his lashes had fallen. All three legends establish one fact – that China is the birthplace of Camellia sinensis. China is where the tea travelogue begins.

Over the years tea attained a seminal status – and became the national drink of China. In fact in AD 780, a tea-scholar by the name of Lu Yu published a tea classic – still revered as the ultimate treatise on the subject. It would be another 800 years before Portuguese traders carried the precious leaf from China to the shores of Lisbon, from where Dutch ships took over the task and made it available in Europe. Tea was an elusive commodity at the time and in England the high price it commanded made it affordable and accessible only to the royalty, nobility and the elite. Many tax laws later, tea became a popular drink among the masses and has acquired a cult status in the UK.

In the New World, The Boston Tea Party did little to popularise the beverage. It took sushi bars, 200 years later, to introduce many Americans to the world of tea.

The never-say-die British then sent the failed Chinese variety to be tried out in the gentler environs of Darjeeling area, together with the home variety from Assam. Darjeeling soil accepted both. Chinese bushes grew better on higher elevations, while Assam bushes thrived well on the lower slopes. Darjeeling teas command the highest prices at tea auctions – unique for their subtle flavour as opposed to the punch of Assam teas.

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Types of Tea - white tea, green tea, Oolong & black tea

The art of making tea