The Story of Tea


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Caftea' :: The Story of Tea

Tea Facts and History
Tea was first brewed as a medicine around 2700 B.C. in the western mountains of China after it was discovered by Shen Nung, the Emperor of China. In the 1400's, the Zen priest, Murato Shuko, created the Japanese tea ceremony, which is called "Cha No Yu," meaning "hot water for tea." Tea drinking also spread to Korea and Southern Asia, and was taken over the Silk Road to Central Asia, Russia, and the Middle East. Dutch explorers became acquainted with tea in the 1590's and were soon importing tea to Europe.

In 1657 the British East India Company held the first public sale of tea in England, and gradually the British fell in love with tea. It also became popular in America, having been introduced by the Dutch in New Amsterdam. Unfortunately, the Tea Act of 1773 gave the East India Company control of tea trading in America, and they began imposing taxes and levies on the colonists. The colonists objected, and this led to the infamous Boston Tea Party.

In 1904, Richard Blechynden was selling tea at the St. Louis World Fair, and it was so hot that he began selling the tea iced. In 1909, New York merchant Thomas Sullivan sent some tea samples sewn in muslin bags to potential customers. Finding they could brew the tea simply by pouring hot water over the bags, the customers clamored for more, and the tea bag was born.

India is the country with the most tea consumption in the world, averaging 651,000 metric tons per year.

Today, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Japan, Iran, Indonesia, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa and Zimbabwe are all major tea exporters.

Ireland has the highest per capita tea consumption in the world, four cups per person per day, while the United States consumes less than one cup per person per day. The United States does however have the number one consumer of iced tea, consuming between 80% and 85% of the tea in that manner.

Today, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world next to water, and can be found in 80% of U.S. Households; it is the only beverage commonly served hot or iced, anytime, anywhere, for any occasion.

On any given day, over 127 million Americans are drinking tea, and the South and Northeast have the greatest concentration of tea drinkers.

Instant tea is declining and loose tea is gaining in popularity, especially in specialty retailers and outlets.

2007 was the 15th consecutive year that consumer purchases of tea increased. The industry anticipates strong, continuous growth over the next five years. This growth will come from all segments driven by convenience, interest in the healthy properties of tea and the continued discovery of Specialty Teas.

Types of Teas
Black, Oolong, Green, and White teas all come from the tea bush Camellia Senensis. Rooibos or "red bush" comes from the South African plant Aspalathus Linearis, which has many tea-like properties and is very high in anti oxidants and minerals. Our Herbals are from many different plant sources and are commonly referred to as tisanes.