Have you ever stopped to think that the warm cup of tea that saves your morning has over 5,000 years of history?
That’s right. Tea is one of the oldest beverages in the world—and the story of how it was discovered is so good it sounds like a movie script.
The Discovery That (They Say) Was an Accident
The most famous story says it all began in China around 2737 BC.
Emperor Shennong—who was obsessed with medicine and plants—was resting under a tree while his servants boiled water to drink.
Suddenly, a few leaves fell into the pot.
The water changed color. A delicate aroma filled the air. The emperor, curious, decided to give it a taste.
And just like that, my friend, tea made its way into history.
But Is This True or Just a Legend?
Good question.
Shennong is a mythological figure in Chinese culture. He is considered the father of traditional medicine and agriculture—so it’s very likely this story is more symbolic than literal.
But you know what’s interesting? The oldest written records about tea date back to the 3rd century BC, and they already describe the drink as something used for medicinal purposes.
In other words: even if the legend is an exaggeration, tea has been a part of Chinese life for millennia.
From Medicine to Everyday Cup
In the beginning, tea wasn’t a pleasure drink. It was medicine.
The Chinese used the leaves to treat headaches, increase focus, and even improve digestion. Over time, it gained space in meals, rituals, and culture.
It was during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) that tea truly became a trend.
During this era, a scholar named Lu Yu wrote the Cha Jing—the “Classic of Tea”—considered the first book dedicated exclusively to the drink.
Yes, there was a whole book just about tea. That says a lot about how seriously the Chinese took it.
How Tea Conquered the World
For centuries, tea remained almost strictly within Asia.
It wasn’t until around the 16th century that the Portuguese and Dutch began bringing the drink to Europe. And then… the game changed.
England fell in love in a way no one expected. Tea became a status symbol, a social ritual, and even a reason for war—yes, the famous Boston Tea Party of 1773 was a protest against the absurd taxes the British Crown levied on tea.
Politics and a cup of tea: an explosive combination.
And Where Does Brazil Fit In?
Tea arrived in Brazil mainly with Japanese immigrants in the early 20th century, who brought the tradition and even started cultivating the plant here.
The Ribeira Valley, in São Paulo, remains one of the main tea-producing regions in the country today.
But tea culture in Brazil is still quite different from Asia. Over here, we mix it a lot with medicinal herbs—chamomile, mint, lemon balm—which technically aren’t “real teas,” but are part of our way of drinking it.
And that’s perfectly fine. Every culture embraces tea in its own way.
Types of Tea: Everything Comes from the Same Plant
Here’s a fact many people don’t know:
Green, black, white, and oolong tea all come from the same plant—Camellia sinensis.
What changes is the harvesting and fermentation process of the leaves. This alters the flavor, color, and even the properties of each type.
Meanwhile, “infusions” like chamomile, ginger, and the like are technically called herbal teas or tisanes—but in Brazil (and often in the US), everyone just calls them tea. And popular language always wins, right?
A Cup with 5,000 Years of History
From the legend of Shennong to modern coffee shops full of exotic options, tea has traveled an incredible path.
It survived empires, crossed oceans, inspired wars, and today it sits on your kitchen shelf.
Next time you brew that warm cup, remember: you are repeating a ritual that billions of people have done before you.
There’s something very beautiful about that.
☕ Did you enjoy discovering the history of tea? Share this post with that person who can’t put their teacup down—they’ll love knowing where this habit came from!
And if you want to keep exploring the world of drinks and fun facts like this, subscribe to our newsletter. Every week, we have a story like this for you.
