Origins of Tea

It's that time of the year again. As trees begin to shed their leaves and the weather begins to take a plunge into the lower 20's, our bodies begin to crave something warm. Many of us instinctively reach into our pantries and cupboards for our favorite tea with no idea of the history behind our beloved favorite drink. Well, here's some basic facts.

Tea, in all its forms, is derived from Camellia sinensis, also known as God's greatest gift to the world. The leaves from this one plant are treated differently, through a number of various processes, to create black, green, white, and oolong tea. More about these awesome teas later.

Tea has been around for a very long time. In record, since the 10 B.C. Camellia sinensis originates from East and South Asia, where the first record of tea drinking is textually recorded during the Qin Dynasty.

According to Su Yin Biao of Ten Ren Tea, the art of tea is one that the Chinese have been perfecting for centuries. Biao, who is a self-proclaimed tea enthusiasts, has been working for Ten Ren Tea for the last 12 years, says, "Tea is like art. By roasting, fermenting, and drying the tea leaves in different environments, you can create a completely different taste."

The 12-year veteran added that, "To properly enjoy tea, you should allow the tea to naturally seep into the water by allocating enough time for a full bodied tea."