So, did you ever wonder where tea started? Let’s face it, we all drink tea every day, but then again do we really understand it? I had that very thought as I pondered into a cup of Earl Grey upon greeting the morning. I just kept staring into my cup and thought, “how long have we been drinking this stuff?” We all drink tea to warm up on a cold day, and of course we would drink tea when Grandma would give us a cup. Upon the first sniffle, the family tea remedies would begin and if Grandpa had any say in it, a smattering of his famous “cough syrup” would find its way off the top shelf and give the remedy a little spirit. I have personally sat for various tea parties with both my daughters, surrounded by dolls, teddy bears and invisible guests but really, where did it all begin? Well, I decided to do a little digging and establish just where actual “tea” originated. My findings were somewhat surprising but then again made perfect sense.
The very first documented “tea” was actually “white tea” and it was derived from China. I expected tea to be old in nature, but I was surprised to know just how old it actually was. White tea was found in the tomb of the Jing Emperor Liu Qi who actually died in 141 B.C. making the first documented known use of “tea” to be in excess of 2100 years old. I immediately thought, “well I found my answer.” I couldn’t have been more wrong. The tea that was discovered in the ancient Chinese tomb was what we today would consider to be actual “tea.” This isn’t where it all began. If you think of the concepts of what “tea” actually is, it’s simple. Leaves from various plants are dried and placed in boiling water, to extract a flavor or property. The answer is pretty much cut and dried. No pun intended. Well maybe just a little one. In reality, the Chinese were not the first.
There has been new evidence discovered that “tea” could very well have been used by the Neandertals. The plaque that has been extracted from the dental remains has now been shown to contain small bits of evidence that proves that the early humans had consumed tea. It is even quite possible that that they were utilizing botanicals to help with possible health issues. If that is true, then we have a completely new view of how these individuals lived and survived. Astonished at just how far I had traveled from the vision of the cooling tea in my half empty cup, I wondered if perhaps that was the beginning. Sadly, upon contemplating my question, I thought that perhaps I had only scratched the surface. With the changing technology and new developments that are discovered every day, I believe we will eventually find another starting point. Either way, I think I’ll just enjoy another cup until then.
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