5 Things You Didn’t Know About the History of Tea

1. Tea Started as a Soup

   The tradition of drinking tea is so ancient in China that there are even legends about how it began. The most famous story tells of one of China's most beloved emperors, Shen Nong, who was meditating under the shade of a Camellia sinensis tree. In front of him was a pot of boiling water. Suddenly, the wind blew, and a few leaves from the tree fell into the water. Shen Nong noticed that the water had turned into a greenish liquor with a delicate aroma. Upon tasting it, he found it delicious.

   
   

   Shen Nong, known for his passion for herbal medicine and agriculture, was always concerned about the health and well-being of his people. He discovered that mixing plants and vegetables could improve their health, so he began recommending that his people combine this plant with onion, ginger, carrot, salt, and a bit of rice. This is how the consumption of tea began—not as a sweet drink, but as a savory soup

   
   

   

   
   

2. China Invented Tea, but Japan Redefined It with Deeper Meaning

   While tea originated in China, Japan elevated it to a new level. The first expansion of tea came thanks to Zen Buddhist monks, who brought it to Japan. There, due to its climate, it was easier to produce green tea. They discovered that by pulverizing the leaves, the resulting brew was stronger, helping them maintain concentration during long meditation sessions.

   
   

   However, it wasn’t until two centuries later that Sen no Rikyū transformed tea into a Zen ritual. This ritual became a form of active meditation: whisking tea with a bamboo whisk invited focus, serving it encouraged respect for others, and drinking it fostered reflection.

   
   

   The Japanese ritual emphasized two profound principles. The first was the importance of appreciating the present moment, as it is a unique occasion that will never happen again. You may drink tea again, but it will be in a different place, with different people, or as a transformed version of yourself shaped by life’s experiences. The second principle was the beauty of imperfection. The ritual included breaking a tea vessel, repairing it with gold, and then using it to prepare tea. This act invites us to see beauty in imperfection: the vessel becomes unique, its golden lines making it even more beautiful. These scars are symbols of what once broke you, but also of how you’ve rebuilt yourself, showcasing your resilience and the lessons learned.

   
   

   

   
   

3. Tea is More Portuguese than British

   Portugal was one of the first countries to establish trade routes with China and India, making tea a common drink in the Portuguese court. While tea was already known in England, it didn’t gain popularity until Catherine of Braganza, a Portuguese princess, married Charles II of England. Catherine brought with her the custom of drinking tea, introducing it to the English court alongside biscuits, breads, and pastries, which created an opportunity for pleasant gatherings among the women of the court. This is how the famous “afternoon tea” began in England, starting with the upper classes and eventually spreading to the rest of society.

   
   

   

   
   

4. Tea Sparked the American Independence Movement

   During the colonial era, both France and England sought to expand their territories in North America, leading to the French and Indian War. France allied with Indigenous tribes to fight against the English colonies. England supported its colonies by sending soldiers, and after the victory, it found itself burdened with significant war debts.

   
   

   To alleviate this, England imposed a policy requiring the colonies to purchase its surplus tea at discounted prices, but with a catch: they had to pay a tax as punishment for the smuggled tea they had been purchasing from Holland to avoid British tariffs. This policy angered the colonists, who disguised themselves as Native Americans, boarded a tea-laden ship, and threw 45 tons of tea into the sea in protest. This event, known as the Boston Tea Party, led England to close the port of Boston as a punitive measure. Rather than submitting, this act of defiance ignited the colonies’ fight for independence.

   
   

   

   
   

5. Tea Bags Were Invented by Accident

   In 1908, Thomas Sullivan, a refined New York tea merchant, began sending tea samples to his customers in silk bags, thinking it would be more elegant than traditional tins. To cut costs, he later switched to gauze bags instead of silk. Some of his clients, confused by the new packaging, steeped the bags directly in their tea without opening them. They were delighted with the flavor and convenience. This happy accident led Sullivan to mass-produce the tea bags, adding a string to make them easier to remove from the cup. Thus, the modern tea bag was born.

   
   

   

   
   

The history of tea has made me reflect on how a single drink has been embraced by so many cultures. Each has adapted it to its own traditions: pulverizing it in Japan, blending it with spices in India, adding bubbles in Taiwan, serving it cold in the United States, or, more recently, mixing matcha with chocolate, milk, and fruits. Yet, at its core, it remains tea. The same can be said of us as humans. Every ethnic group has adapted to its climate, beliefs, traditions, and languages. Yet, regardless of our religion, nationality, or beliefs, we are all the same at our essence. We are people seeking belonging, desiring to love and be loved, experiencing life, and learning from its challenges. So why, instead of dividing ourselves into "us," don’t we give ourselves the chance to embrace diversity, to accept differences, and to celebrate our similarities?

Here’s to diversity!