A legend tells us tea was discovered in China in 2737 BC.  A few tea leaves drifted down from an overhanging branch into Emperor Shennong's large pan of boiling water which was on a fire in the open air.  The evergreen shrub has 5 petal blossoms, which resemble wild white roses. {note: an alternate spelling I've seen is Emperor Chen Nug)

Shennong, an herbalist, sage, and scholar, discovered tea's curative powers. Soon tea became a popular herbal remedy.

The Chinese tea trade is a large part of its history. As long ago as 138 BC, ships sailed regularly to India, Ceylon and other Asian destinations.

Between the seventh and ninth centuries, trading expanded to Korea, Japan, Afghanistan and Arabia was active ]

Tea in the 17th Century

By the 1800s Britain was trading opium (grown in India, which they owned), for tea.
In 1823 the first plantations of tea had been established in India. 
In 1838 the first Indian tea was shipped to Britain.

In the 1840s the shipping of tea was expedited with the launch of the first clippers Clipper required only 7 to 8 months, rather than a year to 15 month, to sail from China to Europe or North America.

Rosa Mashiter writes in "A Little English Book of Teas" (1989 Appletree Press, page 4):
"Tea did not become really popular in England until the mid eighteenth century when it arrived from China, together with teapots and elegant tea-services, known as 'china.' It was not until the 1820s when the political and commercial situation in China was giving cause for alarm that tea planting in India was considered.. Tea has already been discovered growing there, and by the turn of the century tea had become a major Indian export."

The Boston tea party (December 6, 1773)  was a response to heavy tea taxes imposed by the British & contributed to the American revolution & thus American freedom.

The "Invention" of the Tea Bag

In 1908, an American names Thomas Sullivan shipped samples of tea in silk bags to customers.  Sullivan expected the silk to be cut and the tea poured in boiling water.  Instead, the recipients simply seeped the neat little silk bags in boiling water.

In  the 1920s silk turned to gauze and the production of tea bags took off.  

By 1935, the familiar tea bags, with a string and a tag (for advertising purposes)  were widely available in both cup and pot size.

The Perfect Tea
The "perfect cup of tea," is made with loose-leaf Assam tea, with one rounded teaspoon per cup, no extra for the pot. (Britain's Royal Society of Chemistry ).

The Perfect Water:
Freshly drawn and boiled water should be used. Previously boiled water loses dissolved oxygen, which is important to bring out flavor)

"Soft" water is preferable to "hard" water, as hard water contains calcium and other minerals which detract from the pure taste of the tea.  Some recommend fresh spring water

The Perfect Brewing Time:
The tea should be allowed to brew for three to four minutes but no longer, to avoid bringing out the dreaded "higher molecular-weight tannins" which have the "flavor of stewed cardboard" http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030625/od_afp/science_lifestyle_tea_030625165521

Perfectly Rich Mosaic of  Flavor and Taste
Premium tea leaves are the most tender, young leaves.  These young leaves are more tender and flavorful than the older leaves.  Differences in weather conditions and altitudes also affect taste, with superior  premium teas predominating the higher altitudes..  

The perfect way to enjoy tea: with friends & biscotti
Invite your best friend to tea.  Lay out your best dishes on a lace tablecloth, with fresh-picked flowers and immerse homemade biscotti in freshly brewed tea. 

The following is an old Italian  biscotti recipe that melts in your mouth:

Biscotti

 2 cups flour  
1 1/3 cups sugar  
2 eggs  
1 tsp. grated lemon peel (or lemon extract)  
2 tsps baking powder  
1 ½ to 2 cups chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds or filberts)  
¼ cup anisette  
¼ cup rum

  Mix everything (except nuts) in mixing bowl by hand to cookie dough consistency.  
When well mixed, add nuts.  Remix.  
Divide mixture into two.

  Form 2 sausage-like strips on greased cookie sheet.  
Bake at 350 F for approximately 35 to 40 minutes (till light golden brown)  
Remove from oven.

Let it cool completely.  
Slice in approximately ½” strips (or slice before serving).

Health benefits to drinking tea

Tea is an  antioxidant, meaning it helps to combat the oxidation of body cells  that can lead to cancer.  Antioxidants in tea are  vitamin C and polypheonis  The spring 2004 issue of Home Basics reports "Green and black teas contain flavonoid antioxidants, phytochemicals that help neutralize potentially harmful substances called free radicals before damage to healthy cells and tissue occurs." 

U.S. News and World Reports states tea plants "contain catechins, a kind of antioxidant" (Jan 24, 2005, page 58).

Carolina Segura reports that tea is a natural fluoride per studies done at Goetborg University in Sweeden. Tea helps combat cavity causing bacteria and plaque.

Segura also reports that tea may promote s"goetborg university" reduce osteoporosis and prevent fractures, as well as provide anti-inflammatory actions.  Also tea may stimulate nerve cells to make more apo A, a protein, which may help delay the onset of dementia associated with Alzheimer's.

Segura also reports some herbal products used for weight loss contain green tea, because it increases the temperature that is supposed to break down fat in the body.

Adagio teas reports  paraphrases the BBC May 2003 report on beneficial effects of tea:
"Chemicals in tea can destroy bacteria and viruses that cause throat infections, dental cavities and other dental conditions. It raises the prospect of adding tea extracts to toothpaste and mouthwash to protect the teeth."

Adagio teas reports The Wall Street Journal  touted tea's healing powers in April 2003: 
"White-tea extract cream effective at boosting the immune function of skin cells."

Adagio teas   also cites U.S. News & World Report, May 20, 2002
"Tea flavonoids may be bone builders."

I recommend a visit to Adagio Tea's Health Page   highlights and summarizes reputable articles regarding tea's healthful attributes. 

 In the third century BC, tea was referred to as the "elixir of life." Certainly there was some truth to that.

Trivia

Interesting tea ware

Visit the Hong Kon Museum of tea ware

Tea and American Freedom:
Remember the Boston Tea Party. On the night of December 16, 1773.  colonists , dressed as Native Americans, dumped the entire cargo of three boats into the harbor  in protest of the import tea taxes. This highly symbolic act fueled the American Revolution!

Regarding Teabags:
"Teabags are a handy convenience but they do slow down infusion, and favor infusion of the slower-infusing but less desirable higher molecular-weight tannins,"  Loughborough University chemist Andrew Stapley.

Tea Sales

In the United States from 1990 to 2005 "tea sales have more than doubled to $5billion"(U.S. News & World Report, "Take two tea bags and call me," Jan 24, 2005, page 58)

Some information on tea is paraphrased from  Pettigrew's book Tea and Infusions.