According to an ancient legend, the divine farmer Shennong discovered tea after accidentally poisoning himself and being revived by a leaf. While tea doesn't cure poisonings, the story highlights its importance in ancient China.

Tea was first cultivated in China around 6000 years ago and was initially eaten as a vegetable or cooked with grain porridge. It only became a drink about 1500 years ago when people discovered that heat and moisture could create a complex flavor from the leaves.

Over time, the preparation method evolved, eventually leading to the creation of matcha. Tea became central to Chinese culture, inspiring art, literature, and becoming a favorite of emperors.

A Japanese monk introduced tea to Japan in the 9th century, leading to the development of unique Japanese tea ceremonies. In the 14th century, the Chinese emperor shifted the standard to loose leaf tea.

China once held a monopoly on tea, making it a vital export alongside porcelain and silk. This gave China significant economic power as tea spread globally, starting in the early 1600s with Dutch traders.

Queen Catherine of Braganza popularized tea among the English aristocracy. The tea trade became so lucrative that Clipper Ships were developed to race tea back to Europe.

Initially, Britain paid for tea with silver but later traded opium, leading to addiction problems in China and eventually the First Opium War in 1839.

To control the tea market, the British East India Company sent Robert Fortune to steal tea plants from China, smuggling them into India. Today, tea is the second most consumed beverage worldwide, with countless variations in preparation.

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