Rich heritage of tea drinking boils down to good taste

From traditional pu'er to refreshing green tea, the choice is huge and there is sure to be a brew that suits you. Tea is to the Chinese what wine is to the French, beer to the Germans and cigars to the Cubans. In China, tea is more than just a beverage, it is an intrinsic part of the culture of the country. Everyone in the country, from farmers to government officials, drinks tea every day, and many drink it all day.

There are different beliefs about the origin of tea drinking in China. Whatever the truth of the matter, tea has been served in China for more than 5,000 years.

Tea was discovered in 2737BC by a Chinese emperor when some tea leaves accidentally fell into a pot of boiling water. However, there is also a legend that tea was the discovery of the god of agriculture.

At first, Chinese tea was used primarily as a medicine. Only later did it evolve into a beverage, spreading across the country to reach every level of Chinese society.

In the 6th century, a Buddhist monk brought tea to Japan but it was not until the 16th century that tea was introduced to Europe. Since then, it has become one of the three major beverages in the world, alongside coffee and cocoa.

In the past, Chinese tea was classified either according to its origin, such as Anhui tea and Fujian tea, or it was named after the places to which it was exported, for example, Nanyang tea and Nanbian tea.