After water, tea is the most consumed beverage on earth. Approximately 80% of Americans drink tea on a regular basis with iced tea being the tea of choice. Even though many people enjoy drinking tea everyday, few know much about the origins and history of tea.

Tea has been with us for more than 5,000 years. China and India both lay claim to the fact that tea was originally discovered in their respective countries. There are legends that have sprouted up in both countries used to support their claims. According to Chinese legend, around the year 2737 BC Emperor Shen Nung was enjoying a boiled cup of water while standing outside in an open area of the royal palace. A leaf from the Camellia sinensis plant dropped into his cup without the emperor’s knowledge. Unknowingly, he took a sip of the drink and was pleasantly surprised with the taste. Hence, the beverage we know now as tea came into existence.

On the other hand Indians believe that an Indian missionary, Daruma, on his pilgrimage to China was the one responsible for the “discovery” of tea. As part of the pilgrimage, Daruma had taken an oath of sleeplessness and meditation for seven years. After five years, the missionary felt weak and could not continue his oath of staying awake. He stopped meditating and began walking around the area where he was meditating in search for food. What he found was a plant and picked some leaves to chew on. Consuming the leaves gave him strength and the missionary was able to complete his seven year oath. The plant he discovered was what is referred to as the tea plant or Camellia sinensis var. assamica.

There are two types of Camellia sinensis plants in the world. The version which originally was grown in China (Camellia sinensis var. bohea) and the other plant which was originally found only in India(Camellia sinensis var. assamica). It is because of the existence of both members of this family that each claim may be valid.

Reliable records of tea plantation, commerce and tea culture have shown that “a culture of tea” took hold beginning around 3 AD. The first tea book, “Cha Ching”, was published in the year 780 A.D. in China. In this book the author, Lu Yu, describes the habits of tea drinking at the time as well as an overview of the history of tea. This written text was the only reference book in China and Japan for many years after being written.

Tea was introduced to Japan through the Buddhist monks around the year 730 A.D. They had experienced tea being cultivated by Chinese monks in China and were fascinated by the plant and its medicinal effects, as well as its taste. Beginning in the ninth century tea was brought to Japan by these monks who had spent time in China

During the Sung Dynasty (9th-12th century), tea culture was a part of daily life. Visitors and friends of the royal family were offered tea whenever they met with the Emperor. Hui Zong, the 12th century Chinese Emperor, wrote an article entitled “Discussion on Tea”, which created interest among the common people in his country. He also funded and supported plantation of tea in throughout China.

The Japanese tea culture was defined by a priest, Eisai, in the 12th century. Eisai had spent a long time in Japan and brought many different kinds of tea with him when he returned to Japan. The rules of the Japanese tea ceremony were defined by Rikyu, a tea renowned tea master, in the 16th century and were based on traditions from the Sung dynasty in China.

The Dutch and the Portuguese were responsible for introducing tea to Europe in the 1600’s. In the beginning, this beverage was consumed only among the wealthy in European society. However, not too long after its introduction to Europe, tea became a popular drink among the general population as well.

Tea was introduced to America in the middle of the 1600’s. The refusal of the colonists to accept the taxes levied on tea, led to the famous Boston Tea Party which started the Revolutionary War. It was long time after that Americans started consuming tea again.

Even though tea was known in India as a hot drink for long time, the tea industry as it is known in it current form, was born in India in the first half of 19th century. India is the world’s largest producer and supplier of tea. The British brought organization and efficiency to this industry and exported tea to Great Britain.

During the 1990′s tea sales nearly doubled in the United States. Iced tea is the second most consumed beverage after soft drinks. Tea has shown staying power as a beverage and recently has found an increasingly devote following among those that consume it for its many health benefits.