The Journey of Tea: From Ancient China to Global Popularity

Tea today is not just a drink but an emotion for millions globally. What had once been found accidentally in a remote part of China in the year 2737 BC is enjoyed in various forms by different nationalities. Some examples include Masala Tea which is a concoction of spices brewed alongside tea powder in India, Earl Grey tea which is made by taking a base of black tea leaves and flavouring them with bergamot oil in the UK, Iced Tea which is made by steeping tea in hot water, then add cold water, sugar and ice in the USA and the list is never-ending.

While many of us may enjoy drinking tea alongside biscuits and savoury snacks, not many of us might know the origins of the same. So if you wish to know how your favourite drink came into existence, this blog will surely help you.

The Origins of Tea in China

It is believed that tea had been invented by accident in the 28th century BC by the Chinese emperor Shen Nong. The emperor had been boiling water and accidentally, leaves from a nearby tea shrub blew into the cauldron. He tasted the resulting brew, and the beverage of tea was born. The resultant drink, which contained leaves from the plant Camellia Sinensis, soon gained popularity throughout the kingdom. Archaeological evidence from 206 BC suggests that during the rule of the Han Dynasty, tea was popular and several utensils used for brewing and serving tea.

During the rule of the Tang dynasty in the 7th century CE, tea had firmly become the national drink. In the late 8th century, a Chinese writer named Lu Yu produced the first literature on Tea.


When Tea travelled abroad

Beyond China and Japan, the popularity of this beverage had spread to regions connected by the Silk Road. Tea reached Central Asia, Persia, and eventually Europe through these routes in much later centuries.

While tea had been popular in China, its popularity beyond the kingdom’s residents had only risen in the 8th century when Buddhist monks and envoys from Japan had been to China and brought tea seeds from there. The first Japanese literature on tea had been written in the 9th century.

Tea in Europe came for the first time in the sixteenth century when Portuguese missionaries came to China in the year 1516 and encountered this drink. The first ever European literature on Tea was produced in the year 1560 by Portuguese missionary Gaspar da Cruz and in the year 1565 Portuguese missionary Louis Almeida published the first European account of tea in Japan.

While tea had reached Britain earlier, its popularity in the region rose in 1662 when Catherine of Barygaza, a Portuguese princess, married King Charles of England who had popularised the drinking of tea and it soon became a drink associated with royalty and the rich. She had popularised how the British drink tea today which is being served out of a teapot in porcelain cups.

History of tea in India

It is claimed that the Singhpo and Khamti tribes of Assam had been consuming a drink similar to tea since the 12th century. Even the Hindu epic Ramayana mentions plants with medicinal properties that were similar to tea but its’ commercial cultivation had begun only with the advent of British rule in India.

In the 1830s, the British East India Company broke the monopoly of China over the commercial production of tea and began producing tea in the hill tracts of Assam in the manner the Chinese had been doing it. The company also acquired Chinese seeds and planted them at Sikkim, Darjeeling, and Kangra and the variety native to Assam was commercialised soon.

Alongside Assam, Darjeeling, Sikkim and other parts of East and North India, the colonisers also began to explore the potential to grow tea in the Nilgiris, a subrange of the Western Ghats. The region’s high elevation, cool climate, and fertile soil were ideal for tea cultivation. In the year 1853, tea was introduced in the Nilgiris on an experimental basis. The success of these initial efforts paved the way for commercial tea plantations. Soon after, the tea industry in the Nilgiris flourished due to its unique flavour profile, characterized by its light, aromatic, and brisk qualities.

Popularity of Tea today

Today India is one of the biggest exporters of tea globally alongside China and Sri Lanka with regions such as Assam and Sikkim contributing to about 80 percent of the exports and other regions contributing about 20 percent.

The Indian tea industry is valued at USD 11 Billion and Indians alone consume 30 percent of global tea today. It is estimated that the industry is bound to rise by 3.7 per cent CAGR.

Apart from India, tea today is a global phenomenon and tea culture today is a rich and diverse phenomenon that reflects the unique traditions and modern lifestyles of people across the globe. As one of the most widely consumed beverages, the drink transcends geographical and cultural boundaries, embodying both centuries-old customs and contemporary trends. In East Asia, countries like China, Japan, and South Korea uphold elaborate tea ceremonies, emphasizing mindfulness and the aesthetic experience of tea.

In contrast, South Asians celebrate tea as a daily ritual with variations like masala chai and Ceylon tea. In the West, tea has evolved into a lifestyle beverage, with increasing demand for herbal infusions, wellness teas, and exotic blends. The UK retains its iconic “afternoon tea” tradition, while North America has embraced it as a health drink, favouring green and speciality teas. The global surge in health consciousness has boosted interest in organic, functional, and antioxidant-rich teas, driving innovation in packaging and flavour profiles. Whether enjoyed as a ceremonial act, a casual refreshment, or a wellness product, tea remains a universal symbol of comfort, connection, and vitality.