National Hot Tea Month

Tea is believed to have originated in China during the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE), where it was used for medicinal purposes. The Chinese legend of tea's discovery attributes it to the Emperor Shennong who, in 2737 BCE, ordered his subjects to boil water before drinking it to ensure its purity, and one day, a leaf from a wild tea bush blew into the emperor's pot of boiling water, infusing it with flavor. The emperor found the resulting beverage refreshing and invigorating, and thus the practice of drinking tea began. Tea was first used as a medicinal drink and it was only in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) that tea drinking became an art form, and it was consumed for pleasure, not just for its health benefits. Tea was also seen as a symbol of culture and refinement and the tea ceremony was developed to reflect this status. Tea was introduced to Japan by a Buddhist monk in the 9th century, and it quickly became an important part of Japanese culture. It was first brought to Europe by Portuguese and Dutch traders in the 16th century, and it became popular in England during the 17th century. The British began to cultivate tea in India and Sri Lanka in the 19th century, and it eventually became one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Today, tea is grown in many countries around the world, but the largest producers are China, India, Kenya and Sri Lanka. It has a rich cultural history and is often considered an important part of social and cultural rituals in many countries.