History of tea

The first known written references to tea date to around 600 BC, when Lu Yu compiled the Ch'a Ching — known in English as The Classic of Tea — the world's first dedicated monograph on the subject. Lu Yu believed tea symbolised the harmony and mysterious unity of the universe, and his work elevated tea from a simple beverage to a cultural philosophy.

Legend places the discovery much earlier. The most enduring story tells of Emperor Shen Nong — the father of agriculture and herbal medicine — who noticed that leaves from a nearby tree had fallen into a pot of boiling water. Curious, he tasted the resulting liquid and found it both pleasant and reviving. Whether myth or memory, the story captures something true: tea rewards those who pay attention.

In its earliest forms, tea was pressed and dried into cakes — a method still used today in the production of Puerh. It served as a food source, a beverage, and even a form of currency. Later, during the Tang dynasty, leaves were ground and whisked into a frothy bowl — a precursor to the matcha tradition we know today.

It was not until the Ming dynasty that loose leaf tea as we know it emerged. As foreign trade expanded, there was a need for teas that could travel and keep well. The Chinese developed oxidation and fermentation techniques that gave birth to black teas and oolongs — and the world of tea opened into the remarkable diversity it holds today.

Tea reached Japan through Zen Buddhism around the 6th century, brought by the Buddhist priest Eisai, who had witnessed its role in Chinese monastic life. From the imperial court and monasteries, tea spread rapidly through Japanese society — eventually becoming the foundation for an entirely new cultural form.

The Japanese tea ceremony — Chanoyu, or "the way of tea" — was refined over centuries, reaching its definitive form through the master Sen Rikyu in the late 16th century. The ceremony embodies Wabi Cha: a philosophy of simplicity, humility, and the beauty found in imperfection. Tea was elevated beyond beverage into a religion of aestheticism — what the writer Okakura Kakuzo called Teaism — a discipline of mindfulness expressed through the ritual of a single bowl.

During Japan's civil war period, the tea ceremony became one of the most powerful diplomatic tools of the age. With its emphasis on ritual, presence, and the equality of all who entered the tea room, it created a space where rank was set aside. The act of sharing a single bowl of tea was used to negotiate peace between warring lords — a remarkable testament to the power of a simple cup.

Tea arrived in Britain in the mid-17th century, initially appearing in London coffee houses as an exotic curiosity known as "China drink." Its rise to national prominence was largely driven by Queen Catherine of Braganza, the Portuguese wife of Charles II, whose fashionable preference for tea made it desirable among the aristocracy.

For decades, punishing taxation kept tea out of reach for most people — and ironically fuelled a thriving black market. It was not until the late 18th century, after significant tax reform, that tea became the drink of every class. By the 19th century it was inseparable from British identity — and from there it spread across the British Empire, shaping tea cultures in India, Ceylon, and beyond.

The practice of tea drinking has inspired thought and conversation for millennia. Today we enjoy it with toast in the morning, in quiet moments of reflection, with friends over an afternoon table, and everywhere in between. It remains the most democratic of drinks — unchanged in its essentials across five thousand years of human history.

Whether you are drawn to the delicacy of a white tea, the complexity of an aged Puerh, the grassy freshness of a Japanese green, or the comfort of a robust black, the world of tea is endlessly rich. At t leaf T we have been sourcing and hand-packing teas from quality suppliers around the world since 2005 — and our passion for sharing that range with New Zealand tea lovers has only grown.

Tea originated in southern China, with origins dating back approximately five thousand years. The first written monograph on tea, the Ch'a Ching, was compiled by Lu Yu around 600 BC. Legend attributes the discovery to Emperor Shen Nong, who observed leaves falling into boiling water and tasted the resulting infusion.

Tea was introduced to Japan around the 6th century through Zen Buddhism. The Buddhist priest Eisai is credited with bringing tea seeds from China and establishing its role in Japanese religious and court life. The Japanese tea ceremony, Chanoyu, was refined over centuries and reached its definitive form under master Sen Rikyu in the late 16th century.

Tea arrived in Britain in the mid-17th century and was popularised by Queen Catherine of Braganza, whose preference for it made tea fashionable among the aristocracy. High taxation initially restricted it to the wealthy and drove a black market trade. Tax reforms in the late 18th century made tea accessible to all classes, cementing its place as Britain's national drink.

The Japanese tea ceremony, known as Chanoyu or "the way of tea," is a highly ritualised practice rooted in Zen Buddhism and the Wabi Cha philosophy of simplicity and mindfulness. It involves the careful preparation and presentation of matcha in a dedicated tea room, with every gesture carrying meaning. The ceremony was codified by tea master Sen Rikyu in the 16th century and remains a living art form in Japan today.

Loose leaf tea as we know it today emerged during China's Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Prior to this, tea was compressed into cakes or ground into powder. The development of oxidation and fermentation techniques during this period gave rise to black teas and oolongs, and established the loose leaf format that became the global standard.