Tea, one of the world's most popular beverages, has a rich and fascinating history that spans thousands of years. According to Chinese legend, tea was first discovered in 2737 BCE by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung. While boiling water in the shade of a tree, some leaves from the tree blew into the water and changed its color. The emperor was intrigued by the pleasant aroma and decided to drink the infusion, thus discovering tea.

The earliest reliable records of tea drinking date back to the 3rd century CE during the Han Dynasty in China. Initially, tea was used primarily for medicinal purposes. Buddhist monks were among the first to adopt tea drinking as a regular practice, using it to stay alert during long meditation sessions.

During the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), tea cultivation and consumption became more widespread throughout China. The famous tea master Lu Yu wrote "The Classic of Tea" (Cha Jing) in the 8th century.

Tea gradually spread to other parts of Asia through trade routes and cultural exchange. Japanese monks brought tea back to Japan in the 9th century, where it evolved into the Japanese tea ceremony.

Tea reached Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries through Portuguese and Dutch traders. Initially, it was expensive and limited to the wealthy.

The Boston Tea Party of 1773 highlighted tea’s political significance when American colonists protested British tea taxes. This event contributed to the American Revolution.