A BRIEF HISTORY OF TEA

The History of Tea & Where it came from …

Our morning brew has a fascinating and international history spreading across many cultures over thousands of years. Tea was first sipped back in the 3rd century AD in Southwest China and continues to be enjoyed in households all over the world today. In fact, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world.

Quintessentially, tea is thought of as a British drink, however discovery of tea began all the way in China. In 2737BC by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung when leaves from a tea tree fell into his cup of boiling water which he then tasted – and just like that, tea was born!

Initially tea was consumed as a medical drink in the Yunnan region during the Shang dynasty.  However the popularity of tea grew and became much more than that, by the end of the third century, tea had become China’s national drink.

Drinking Tea became popular much later into the second half of 16th century in Europe. The Portuguese were the early adopters followed by the Dutch who were quick to import tea.  But in no time, tea drinking was adopted all over Europe.

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From the 8^th century the Ancient Chinese would package up tea in little bags to transport and preserve it, but the first modern tea bag wasn’t introduced to the Western World until 1903.  When New York tea and coffee importer Thomas Sullivan inadvertently invented the first modern tea bag when he began shipping his tea around the world in tiny silk bags, customers decided it was easier to brew his tea in the bags themselves.

BREWS BEYOND BELEAF

Although we’ve seen teabag designs come and go, we’ve now come full circle and gone back to basics.  Ancient Chinese tea-lovers knew what they were doing after all, because deep-down we’ve always known that creating your tea through traditional methods and brewing your tea from loose leaves produces the best flavours!  Because when you steep loose-leaf tea, it provides more room for the tea leaves to absorb water and expand as they infuse.

Switching to loose-leaf tea may seem scary at first, but don’t worry.  That’s why we’re here! Get in touch with us at Leafy Bean world via our website, Instagram or if you’re in the area, pop into our café at Bowes Park station.  We are always more than happy to explain to you the best way to brew and what tea will suit you best!