Green Tea BlogAll you need to know about Green Tea

The text below was compiled from various sources. We believe it to be most accurate as we have omitted several unsupported claims scattered all over the internet.

Quick fact

Green tea has been around for hundreds of centuries, dating back in Chinese literature as far as 5,000 years. It dates back to 2737 BC based on some Chinese legends, stories and some literature.

The Story of the Emperor and Green Tea

Emperor Chien-lung of the Ching Dynasty who reigned from 1736 to 1796 A.D. disguised himself as a commoner, traveling with two cabinet ministers incognito to the countryside. Since the Manchu Imperial family originally came from a northern minority, Chien-lung was used to drinking black tea only. When his entourage was passing a tea plantation in south-central China, the servants offered him a cup of choice green tea. After a few sips, the emperor commented: “Too bland. Tasteless,” and continued his journey on horseback. Riding about half of a mile later, the emperor turned to his ministers and said, “Good tea.” The perceptive king suddenly realized that the characteristic soothing savory sweet tea-taste of a choice green tea only comes a few minutes after the sip. Since then, green tea was introduced to the Manchu ruling family as the beverage of choice and a special misty hillside in Zhejiang Province was designated as the Imperial Tea Plantation.

Chinese Tea Drinkers

Green tea has been used in China as a healthy, medicinal drink for approximately 5,000 years. Green tea was the drink of choice among the leaders and the wealthy. The tea leaves were used fresh from the plant for tea brewing, lightly heat processed, or even eaten right away. In ancient China, tea was a costly drink, consumed only by the rich and wealthy of the population. However, following the fall of the Mongolian Empire back in 1368 AD, the whole population of China began to experience the wonderful consumption of tea, including green tea.

Between 1405 and 1433, when China had the power of the sea, the seamen were given the necessary amount of green tea. The antioxidants in the green tea they drank fought off scurvy, which killed many Europeans sailors several years later.

Tea consumption was introduced to the United States by Europe, as a part of the worldwide tea trade, and also by Chinese immigrants who owned Chinese restaurants in the United States and served their tea. This dates back before 1945.

Timeline

In 350 AD, a record was made in a Chinese literature for a method of brewing green tea. In 520 AD, Buddhists chew the leaves while meditating, to assist in meditation. In 729 AD, tea cultivation begins to spread in Japan when the Japanese Emperor gives gifts of powdered green tea to Buddhist monks. In 780 AD, in China, a book titled “The Book of Tea” is written by Lu Yu. In the book, the author explains that there are numerous health benefits of green tea, and was given the name the “patron saint” of tea. In 1211 AD, Eisai Myoan, the creator of Zen Buddhism, authors a book titled, “Tea Drinking is Good for Health”. He becomes an advocate for tea as a remedy for nearly anything. In the 1400s, the creation of the tea ceremony is created by a Japanese Zen priest. In 1517 AD, Europe is presented with Chinese tea by way of Portuguese traders. In 1559 AD, a Venetian merchant writes a book called “Voyages and Travels”, which mentions the healthful assets of tea. In the 1657 AD, the London people begin to sell tea in the city.
From the 1600s to now, water is the most popular drink of choice, and tea turns out to be the second most popular drink among people.