Who Discovered Tea?

By Silver Leaf Tea Company

There are many tales about how the Camellia sinensis bush was discovered and used to make the drink we all know as "tea." Most of these myths are very interesting myths but they have no historical basis. For example, in Buddhism it is commonly told that the founder of the Zen School of Buddhism was meditating in front of a large structured wall for nearly nine full years and he had accidentally fell asleep. When he awoke and realized he had fallen asleep he felt morally weak and in his anger he cut off his eyelids. His eyelids heavily fell into the soil, took root as if they were created for planting, and grew into full and luxurious Camellia sinensis bushes. He then took the tea and made a beverage of it.

The most commonly told myth about the discovery of tea is a Chinese legend. It is the most probable of the many legends and myths out there surrounding the discovery of tea. The ancient Chinese legend myth and tale explains that the Emperor of China and famed inventor of Chinese medicine and Chinese agriculture, Shennong, was purifying his water by boiling it. This was his cleansing and purification process and ancient custom. This particular time he was the wind was blowing ferociously and it blew tea leaves from a nearby Camellia sinensis bush into his now boiling water. He noticed the water's new aroma and changed color. The esteemed Emperor of China was always testing new things and tested the newly discovered tea and was refreshed and completely enjoyed the newfound tea. In his many tests, Emperor Shennong had found that tea cured many toxic potions and mixtures and that tea was a universal medicine with hundreds of applications.

While we may never fully know how tea was discovered, we should be happy that it was and enjoy the many variations of tea and the many benefits of the tea we so richly enjoy today!

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