History In A Tea Cup - 1

By Author: Candice Oneida
Total Articles: 2
Comment this article

Did you know that your favorite afternoon pick-me-up or breakfast cuppa has a history that dates back thousands of years? According to legend, the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung discovered tea way back in 2737 BC when some tea leaves were blown by the wind into his pot of boiling water. Now, whether Emperor Shen was actually boiling water under that tea tree or not, the fact remains that tea has been a part of Chinese medical and dietary tradition for at least 1700 years. It is first mentioned in a manuscript dating to 340 CE. Sometime around 400, folks started adding other ingredients to their tea. Some popular additions were orange, ginger, spices and even onion and garlic.

In 479, Turkish traders discovered tea during trading along the Mongolian border. A little over a hundred years later, Buddhists monks returning to Japan in 593 carried seeds and leaves home with them, introducing the Japanese to the Elixir of Immortality. Japan, however, doesn't begin to cultivate its own tea until nearly half a century later. Even then, it is rare, expensive and strictly for the aristocracy and high priests.

Between 960 and 1280, ...
... tea drinking becomes popular, first in China and then in Japan. Tea begins to lose its earlier, exotic flavorings. Tea becomes so important to Emperor Hui Tsung that he holds tea-making competitions and tea-tasting events. Supposedly, he becomes so obsessed with tea, he doesn't notice when the Chins take over in 1125. Another invasion, this one by the Mongols, ended tea's reign as the drink of the aristocracy. Tea drinking becomes commonplace among even the poorest peasants. Tea sets begin to be made of ordinary pottery and tea drinking rituals and porcelain sets are left to the rich and noble, as tea became a part of everyday life. In fact, the Mongols weren't big on tea and tea drinking among the upper classes dies out, leaving the drink's fate to the masses. In 1386, however, the Mongols fall out of power and tea again gains prominence in Chinese courts.

During the 1400's Japanese Zen Buddhist priests refine the tea ceremony into its modern day from and tea takes on an elegant, almost religious atmosphere, becoming an art form of its own.

The 17th, 18th and 19th centuries are perhaps the most important time in tea's history, as it becomes a player in both world societies and world politics. It isn't until 1589 that Europeans even learn of tea, through the writings of a Venetian author. In 1610, The Dutch East India Company begins exporting tea from China to Europe. They market it as an exotic medicinal drink. Tea, however, is so expensive that, as in early China and Japan, only the wealthiest of the aristocracy can afford to buy tea and its serving pieces. By 1635, tea drinking has managed to catch on in the Dutch court, and during the mid 17th century, wealthy Dutch merchants' wives are hosting tea parties. Tea becomes so popular across all the social classes that many fear it will be the ruin of family life. Ministers fearfully call for a ban on the stuff.

Zhi Tea is a leading provider of high-quality organic tea http://www.zhitea.com/ online. Visit them today for a full selection of high-grade, fair trade organic Green, Black, White and Oolong teas. Also view their tea gift basket http://www.zhitea.com/store/detail.aspx?category=21&section=13&id=574 selection - a great gift for the holidays.