The history of tea - Shunan Teng

Summary

The legend of Shennong, the mythical Chinese figure, introduces the discovery of tea, which has evolved from being a food item to a drink over thousands of years. Tea, first cultivated in China 6,000 years ago, became central to Chinese culture, with matcha becoming particularly popular. By the 9th century, tea spread to Japan, and by the Ming Dynasty, loose leaf tea became standard. With British colonial expansion in the 1600s, tea became a prized global commodity, leading to conflicts like the Opium Wars. Today, tea remains the world's second most consumed beverage, enjoyed in countless varieties worldwide.

Takeaways

• 😀 Shennong, the divine farmer in ancient China, is credited with discovering tea after accidentally poisoning himself 72 times and finding revival through a leaf.
• 😀 Tea was first cultivated in China as early as 6,000 years ago, predating the Great Pyramids of Giza by 1,500 years.
• 😀 The original Chinese tea plant is still used worldwide today, though tea was initially consumed as food or cooked with grain porridge.
• 😀 Tea shifted from food to drink around 1,500 years ago, when people discovered the complex taste created by heat and moisture.
• 😀 The standard preparation of tea evolved into grinding it into powder (matcha), a method that became integral to Chinese tea culture.
• 😀 Tea culture in ancient China became highly developed, with tea being the subject of books, poetry, and elaborate art, including foam-based drawings.
• 😀 The introduction of tea to Japan came in the 9th century when a Japanese monk brought the first tea plant, which eventually led to the Japanese tea ceremony.
• 😀 The Ming Dynasty (14th century) saw the shift from pressed tea cakes to loose leaf tea, which expanded China’s economic influence as tea became an export commodity.
• 😀 Tea became a major export from China in the 1600s, influencing European culture, with Dutch traders bringing it to Europe and Queen Catherine of Braganza popularizing it in England.
• 😀 By 1700, tea became a luxury item in Europe, priced far higher than coffee, and Britain began paying for it with silver before trading opium in exchange for tea from China.
• 😀 The First Opium War (1839-1842) between China and Britain was triggered by British opium trade, resulting in China’s defeat and the cession of Hong Kong to Britain, weakening China's global influence.

Q & A

What legend is associated with the discovery of tea?

According to an ancient legend, the divine farmer Shennong accidentally poisoned himself 72 times while foraging for herbs. Before he died, a leaf drifted into his mouth, and chewing it revived him. This is said to be how tea was discovered, though it's not scientifically true that tea cures poisonings.

When did tea cultivation first begin in China?

Tea was first cultivated in China as early as 6,000 years ago, which predates the construction of the Great Pyramids of Giza by around 1,500 years.

How was tea initially consumed in ancient China?

In ancient China, tea was not consumed as a beverage. Instead, it was eaten as a vegetable or cooked with grain porridge.

What was the original method of preparing tea that led to the creation of matcha?

The original method involved heating tea leaves, packing them into portable cakes, and grinding them into powder. This mixture was then combined with hot water to create a beverage called muo cha, which is now known as matcha.

What role did tea play in ancient Chinese culture?

Tea became a significant part of Chinese culture, inspiring books, poetry, and artistic expressions. It was also a favorite drink of emperors, and artists even created elaborate designs in the foam of the tea, similar to modern-day espresso art.

How did tea spread to Japan?

Tea was introduced to Japan by a Japanese monk during the Tang Dynasty in the 9th century, where it eventually developed into a unique cultural practice known as the Japanese tea ceremony.

What change occurred in tea production during the Ming Dynasty?

During the Ming Dynasty in the 14th century, the Chinese emperor shifted the standard for tea preparation from pressed cakes to loose-leaf tea.

Why was China so influential in the global tea market in the 17th and 18th centuries?

China held a near-monopoly on tea production, making it one of the three major Chinese exports alongside porcelain and silk. This gave China significant economic and political power as the demand for tea spread globally.

How did the British East India Company affect the global tea trade?

The British East India Company sought to control the tea market and began trading large quantities of Chinese tea to Europe. They also wanted to grow tea themselves and commissioned botanist Robert Fortune to steal tea plants from China, which led to tea cultivation in India.

What sparked the First Opium War between Britain and China?

The First Opium War was triggered in 1839 when a Chinese official ordered the destruction of large shipments of opium brought by the British, protesting the negative effects of opium addiction in China. This led to conflict and the eventual cession of Hong Kong to Britain.