The most former plant cultivated by the world finds its previous history in China. Indeed, the tea plant is cultivated there for 2500 years. Today still, he is the custom to be of use a bowl of tea to his hosts in sign of welcome and friendship. Chinese who consider the tea as one of " seven necessities " of the everyday life, consume it in all the meals. Before, it quenches and later, it facilitates the digestion. The most former written data which give evidence of the existence of the tea go back up in approximately 220av. J-C. From the end of the IXth century AD, the salt and the tea were, in China, the main sources of state incomes.

The discovery of the tea

According to the faith popular Chinese, the emperor Chen Nung (on 2737-2697 BC) who boiled the water before drinking it would have discover tea . One day which the wind blew, three sheets of wild tea plant fluttered and fell in its bowl of warm water. The water became then brown-yellow. The emperor dipped his lips there and found this vivifying and refreshing breuvage. El would have it then, sampled every day.

Another legend (Japanese this time), tell that the tea was discovered by Bodhidharma (towards 495 after J.C.), first monk missionary of the Buddhism in China. While he was in full meditation, the eyes closed abruptly, and he fell asleep.

In his alarm clock, he rebelled against his own weakness, tore away eyelids and threw them with anger on the ground. These took root, giving each a shrub has green sheets. The Buddhist dignitary dripped in sheets and his fatigue quickly disappeared. He felt then strong surprise. The word cha in Japanese means "tea" but also "eyelids".

The Indians believe that the tea was discovered by the same missionary Dharma.To preach the Buddhism, the monk began a journey of meditation of seven years through China. It was resolved not to sleep during all its trip. At the end of five years, when the fatigue swamped him, he got up and made a walk between the wild tea plants. When he chewed sheets, his fatigue disappeared completely and he was able to pursue his journey during two years without sleeping.
That we want to believe in such or such legend, the fact is that we consider stupid China the country of origin of the tea. It is there that the tea plant was cultivated for the first time.

Development in China

Under the dynasties Oof (206 avenue. J.-C.-220 apr. J.C.) the tea served at first as remedy, as food and as offerings. Chinese considered it as a remedy very effective in case of fatigue, of headaches, of problems of concentration, visual incapacity, rheumatisms and disorders of the bladder.

The first master of the tea

Under the dynasty Tang ( 618-907 ), the tea was particularly appreciated by the monks, the writers, the poets and the painters because of its stimulating virtues.
It is the time of Lu Yu, the Grand Master of the tea. He is the author of several papers, a treaty of several volumes on the tea. This author was considered as the " god of the tea ".

First highlight

Under the dynasties Song ( 960-1279 ), the art of the tea reached its highlight. In this time the tea was reserved the emperor and for the court.
The emperor Huizong spent fortunes to buy some good tea. He also incited the people to be accurate in the art to prepare the breuvage. The tea becomes a popular drink From then on the consumption of the tea was not exclusively reserved any more for the members of the imperial family. We began practising the art of tea into all the country.
The new manufacturing processes: the black tea.

Under the dynasty Qing ( 1644-1911 ), the tea set out to conquer the world. The following history tells how were focusing the methods of fabrication of the black tea.
During the war of the opium, the foreign troops occupied a factory of tea and used it to store their provisioning. In the hall were piled up freshly harvested tea leaves to which nobody paid attention. Tea leaves beginning to ferment, a strong smell spread. The soldiers allowed finally the farmer to verify his tea, on which he decided to put on sale in spite of his state. This one was sold in a short time.

The tea conquers Japan

The Chinese had the monopoly of the tea until Buddhist monks import these goods in Japan between 520 and 800 apr. J.C. We suppose that monks Zen smuggled with tea leaves by hiding them under their clothes.
According to other sources, the monk Saicho and Kukai brought the first seeds of tea in Japan in 801 apr. J.C. the breuvage served at first as remedy. In monasteries, the monks used it to stimulate the meditation. This precious foodstuff remained at first the privilege of the imperial family and the superior classes. From the XIIth century, the tea also began to be consumed by the people.

The road of Europe

From Xve century, the knowledge concerning the culture and the effects of the tea gained Europe through the missionaries and the sailors.The business of the tea began when the Dutch traders imported these goods in Amsterdam in 1610.
The green tea was the first one to be introduced in Europe. Since the Holland, the business of the tea quickly extended towards Italy, France, Germany and Portugal. It also gained Russia.

In the New World

By 1650, the Dutch traders imported the tea towards the Piece of news-Amsterdam(Short story-Amsterdam), the current city of New York. The breuvage was very ledge appreciated so that we established tea-parts.