History of Tea

2737 B.C.: Legend has it that Shen Nong, the emperor-herbalist, probably intoxicated by a plant whose properties he had experimented on himself, sits down to rest under a tree and asks a servant to boil some water to drink: a leaf from the tree under which he sits detaches itself, falls into the water, the emperor drinks the new beverage and feels immediately refreshed. From here he seems to spread the use of the plant, as a medicine in monasteries. As early as the Han Dynasty (first centuries B.C.) the drink knows the favor of the nobles and the imperial court, the best teas are presented as gifts to the emperor. Since then tea has been closely associated with philosophy, meditation and medicine.

Three Chinese dynasties over time spread the use of tea throughout the East; each of these dynasties is referred to for the different way tea is prepared.

The Tang dynasty reigned in China during the period 618-907, during which time tea was boiled. Compressed tea in easily transportable and poorly perishable buns is used. (Pao Cha).

During the Song Dynasty, in the period 960-1367, tea is emulsionated. Powdered tea is used, this way of using tea takes wide consumption especially in Japan. (Mo cha).

Finally with the Ming dynasty ruling in the period1368-1644, tea is infused. The current way of using tea leaves begins. (Zu cha).

In 780 A.D.: the Chinese poet “Lu Yu” writes the first treatise on tea, called the “Canon of Tea” translated into many languages and in particular into Italian by Prof. Marco Ceresa professor of Chinese language and literature at Ca’ Foscari University in Venice.

In the period 707/1191 the spread of tea spread to Japan through Daishi and Yesai, Buddhist monks. Yesai in 1191 wrote the first Japanese book devoted to tea. At the same time, tea is also spread to Tibet. Tile-pressed tea is used, boiled in water to which salt and yak butter are added. The result is a very fatty and salty tea called Su Yu Ch’a.

In 1610 the first shipment of tea to Holland by the “East India Company.” It took another twenty or thirty years before the English began to import tea regularly. By the end of the 17th century all of Europe had discovered the delights of tea. Since then, this beverage has played a significant role in cultural history and political developments.

From 1618 Russia bought tea from China and transported it by caravans until 1900, when the Trans-Siberian railway was built.

From about 1650 tea arrived in Paris and London (Thomas Garraway, held the first public auction to sell tea) and later in America.

In the early 1700s Thomas Twining opens the first tea shop, with admission to women, which was quite extraordinary given the customs of the time. Twinings’ historic blends among the world’s most popular include: Earl Grey: Legend has it that this blend was given to Prime Minister Charles Grey by a Chinese mandarin, as a token of gratitude, and was later appropriated by Twinings. In those days it was not customary to register patents, and in fact the name of the tea was not registered, so much so that it has become a type of tea produced by several companies. English breakfast: this blend was created to give the English a strong, aromatic blend for a breakfast. Hence the name English Breakfast. The Prince of Wales: this tea dates back to 1921 and was the personal blend of His Highness the Prince of Wales. When he became king in 1936 as Edward VIII, this blend was withdrawn from the English market, but Twinings was allowed to continue exporting it. For this reason, Prince of Wales tea can only be purchased outside the United Kingdom. This tea is considered the ‘Burgundy’ of Chinese teas.

During the 1700s and 1800s tea then becomes very popular throughout England, eventually spreading as an everyday beverage to all social classes. The need for ever-increasing supplies arises, new growing grounds are sought in the colonies, seeds are obtained, and Chinese growing techniques are discovered. But it was not until the mid-1800s that the first tea crops began in India.

In about 1823, a plant similar to the Chinese plant was discovered in Assam by Major Bruce. This is Camellia Assamica, a variety of the original Camellia Sinensis, native to the Indies. The first tea plantations were then established in the Assam area, and the Assam Tea Company was born, which would begin importing Indian tea throughout Europe. During this period some important tea-related dates

In 1773 the Boston Tea Party, which triggers the American Revolution.

From 1840 to 1857 the Opium Wars, England in China opium grown in the Bengal colonies and with the silver it obtained, bought back the tea.

In 1870 tea cultivation begins in Ceylon. A fungus kills all the coffee crops on the island, and the British decide to convert the crops back to tea.

Tea arrives in Italy around the mid-1800s, and since then, although Italians are heavy coffee drinkers, its use has been growing. By now, specialty tea stores are beginning to open in several Italian cities. A few attempts have been made to produce tea in Italy. The first attempt in the 1930s made at the Botanical Garden of Pavia resulted in a variety called Camellia Thea Ticinensis, but it was unsuccessful. Subsequently, several tea plants of both the Sinensis and Assamica varieties were planted in the vicinity of Lucca. The resulting tea, rigorously harvested by hand, is something precious destined for a select few customers.

In the early 1900s came the invention of the tea bag and iced tea. It is generally thought that bagged tea was traditionally produced in England. Instead, it was Thomas Sullivan an American tea merchant who began sending tea samples to his customers in small silk bags. These customers thought that these pouches could be used in the same way as steel infusers. And they began to put the entire bag of tea into the pot. From this simple misunderstanding the tea bag was born.