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History of Tea

The earliest history of man consuming tea as a beverage can be traced back at least 4700 years. Exactly how long ago its healthful properties were first discovered cannot be ascertained, but its beginnings are typically attributed to the mythical Chinese emperor Shên Nung. Shên Nung is often referred to as the father of Chinese herbal medicine, reputedly spending much of his lifetime afield searching for new herbs from which to concoct remedies for the many maladies that affected his subjects. One day, the Emperor found himself especially fatigued from his endeavors, and stopped under a tree to light a fire to sterilize the water he was about to consume as a refreshment. As fate would have it, a couple of leaves fell from the tree and into his pot of water.