From Medicine to Daily Drink

Tea is the most popular drink in the world after water. Its story begins in ancient China over 4,000 years ago. According to legend, the Emperor Shennong discovered tea by accident when leaves from a wild tree blew into his pot of boiling water. At first, tea was used as a medicine to help people stay awake and cure sickness. It was not until the Tang Dynasty (618-907) that tea became a popular daily beverage enjoyed for its taste.

In the 17th century, Dutch merchants brought tea to Europe. It quickly became fashionable among the rich in England. However, because tea was imported from China, it was very expensive. To stop servants from stealing it, wealthy families kept their tea in locked wooden boxes called "tea caddies."

The famous British tradition of "Afternoon Tea" started in the 1840s. At that time, people usually ate dinner very late, around 8:00 p.m. The Duchess of Bedford often felt hungry in the afternoon, so she began having tea and light snacks in her room. This habit soon spread to her friends and eventually became a national custom.

From Medicine to Daily Drink

Tea is the most popular drink in the world after water. Its story begins in ancient China over 4,000 years ago. According to legend, the Emperor Shennong discovered tea by accident when leaves from a wild tree blew into his pot of boiling water. At first, tea was used as a medicine to help people stay awake and cure sickness. It was not until the Tang Dynasty (618-907) that tea became a popular daily beverage enjoyed for its taste.

In the 17th century, Dutch merchants brought tea to Europe. It quickly became fashionable among the rich in England. However, because tea was imported from China, it was very expensive. To stop servants from stealing it, wealthy families kept their tea in locked wooden boxes called "tea caddies."

The famous British tradition of "Afternoon Tea" started in the 1840s. At that time, people usually ate dinner very late, around 8:00 p.m. The Duchess of Bedford often felt hungry in the afternoon, so she began having tea and light snacks in her room. This habit soon spread to her friends and eventually became a national custom.