The story of tea begins in China. According to legend, in 2737 BC, the Chinese emperor Shen Nung was sitting beneath a tree while his servant boiled drinking water, when some leaves from the tree blew into the water. Shen Nung, a renowned herbalist, decided to try the infusion that his servant had accidentally created. The tree was a Camellia sinensis, and the resulting drink was what we now call tea.
Tea was first introduced to Portuguese priests and merchants in China during the 16th century and drinking tea became popular in Britain during the 17th century. The British introduced tea production, as well as tea consumption, to India, in order to compete with the China monopoly on tea. As a global drink now, there are amazing Tea experiences to be found across the world from Tanzania to Taiwan, Vietnam to Sri Lanka. Many countries have a tea experience that often involves both new and old school methods of plucking, creating fascinating histories and techniques colliding with the luscious setting of spectacular mountain regions.
