Believe it or not, green tea has been around for hundreds of centuries,
dating back in Chinese literature as far as 5,000 years ago! It dates back to
2737 BC based on some Chinese legends, stories and some literature.
Chinese Stories and Legends of the History of Green Tea:
A man known as Shien Non Shei found the plant, and tasted a leaf from it. He
thought it tasted fantastic, and decided to mix it with water to make a drink
out of it. He also thought that the plant had medicinal properties.
Another story says that the Emperor, Shen Nung, came upon the tea when a
leaf from the plant fell into a cup of hot water he was drinking at the time.
Chinese Tea Drinkers:
Green tea has been used in China
as a healthy, medicinal drink for approximately 5,000 years. Green tea was the
drink of choice among the leaders and the wealthy. The tea leaves were used
fresh from the plant for tea brewing, lightly heat processed, or even eaten
right away. In ancient China,
tea was a costly drink, consumed only by the rich and wealthy of the
population. However, following the fall of the Mongolian Empire back in 1368
AD, the whole population of China
began to experience the wonderful consumption of tea, including green tea.
Between 1405 and 1433, when China
had the power of the sea, the seamen were given the necessary amount of green
tea. The antioxidants in the green tea they drank fought off scurvy, which
killed many Europeans sailors several years later.
Tea consumption was introduced to the United
States by Europe, as
a part of the worldwide tea trade, and also by Chinese immigrants who owned
Chinese restaurants in the United States
and served their tea. This dates back before 1945.
Timeline of the history of green tea:
In 350 AD, a record was made in a Chinese literature for a method of brewing
green tea.
In 520 AD, Buddhists chew the leaves while meditating, to assist in
meditation.
In 729 AD, tea cultivation begins to spread in Japan
when the Japanese Emperor gives gifts of powdered green tea to Buddhist monks.
In 780 AD, in China,
a book titled “The Book of Tea” is written by Lu Yu. In the book, the author
explains that there are numerous health benefits of green tea, and was given
the name the “patron saint” of tea.
In 1211 AD, Eisai Myoan, the creator of Zen Buddhism, authors a book titled,
“Tea Drinking is Good for Health”. He becomes an advocate for tea as a remedy
for nearly anything.
In the 1400s, the creation of the tea ceremony is created by a Japanese Zen
priest.
In 1517 AD, Europe is presented with Chinese tea by
way of Portuguese traders.
In 1559 AD, a Venetian merchant writes a book called “Voyages and Travels”,
which mentions the healthful assets of tea.
In the 1657 AD, the London
people begin to sell tea in the city.
From the 1600s to now, water is the most popular drink of choice, and tea
turns out to be the second most popular drink among people.