Origin of Green Tea
Green tea was first grown in China in around 2737 B.C. The discovery occurred by accident when the Chinese Emperor Shennong mistakenly drank water that had a dead tea leaf boiled in it. The Emperor found that the flavour was refreshing and therefore a new drink was created. Green tea was primarily available to the richest in Chinese society, was very expensive and it was not until the 14th century that green tea became widely accessible to the general public.
Around 800 A.D., during the Tang Dynasty, a book titled, "Cha Jing," also known as "The Classic of Tea" was written by a writer named Lu Yu. Lu Yu was adopted by a Buddhist monk and grew up brewing and serving tea. His interest in tea blossomed and his abilities to make tea improved as he got older. His book, "The Classic of Tea" became the first written work to explain the culture and art of green tea.
Green tea was eventually traded through the world in the 19th century by European explorers. Due to its flavor, it was a huge commodity and became Great Britain's national beverage, along with black tea. Soon after, green tea made its grand appearance on America when it shipped overseas with the settlers.
In the last few decades, the popularity of green tea has increased massively. At coffee shops around the world you can find green tea blends ranging from jasmine to iced matcha. In addition to its varied flavours, hundreds of health discoveries are taking place due to its high number of antioxidants. It appears that the more we learn about this amazing tea, the more impressive and beneficial it becomes.