The Chinese people have enjoyed tea for thousands of yesrs. Scholars also viewed tea as a cure for variety types of ailments. Besides that, the nobility also considered the consumption of good tea as a mark of their status. China is also considered to have the earliest records of tea drinking.
Tea was first discovered by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nong in 2737 BC. It is said that the emperor liked his drinking water boiled before he drank it so it would be clean. One day, on a trip to a distant region, he and his army stopped for resting. A servant began to boil water for him to drink and a dead leaf from the wild tea bush fell into the water. It turned a brownish color but it was unnoticed and presented to the emperor anyway. The emperor drank it and found it very refreshing and cha (tea) was born.
He found the leaves edible, drinkable when brewed and even to possess healing powers. Thus began his fascinating search to identify and classify tea variety and quantity. One day, Shen Nong accidentally tasted a type of poisonous weed which could kill a man within 10 steps. Only tea leaves could save him. However, the poison took effect before he could reach any tea bushes. He died within his 7th step.
Tea drinking is also a cultural tradition to be practiced daily and on special ceremonial occasions. Tea is served as a mode of respect, goodwill, acceptance, blessing and friendship. It is presented at wedding, births and burial ceremonies. In any Chinese household it is an accepted courtesy to serve tea to visitors and guests on entering the house.
(The Discovery Of Tea - Early Uses )
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