Tea is one of the most popular beverages on the planet, yet in the United States tea is only starting to get the recognition it deserves. On both the East and West Coasts, the popularity of teahouses is booming. Just like the rest of the world, the people of the United States are starting to figure out that drinking fine tea is a necessary part of their day.

Although tea is grown in several countries, the best teas in the world come from a handful of countries, each with unique tea beginnings. Unquestionably, the origins of tea began in China. Many references to tea fill Chinese history, some as early as 3000 BC. The legendary accidental discovery of tea was said to occur in 2737 BC by Emperor Shen Nong when a Camellia leaf fell from a bush while he was boiling water. He took a sip of the resulting infusion and declared it had medicinal powers. As a result, teas were originally used as a medicine, then as a social beverage, and lastly, as a cultural ritual. The earliest written references to tea in China involve boiling raw, wild grown leaves in water.

Buddhist monks who found the stimulant properties useful in their meditations brought tea to Japan in the early eighth century. Since that time, Japan has elevated the art of tea to a transcendental spiritual level unlike any other country. The Japanese tea ritual requires dedicated study and discipline. It represents the simple poetry of life, and the connection between the guest and host.

Like coffee, the Dutch and English started the spread of tea from the East to the West in the sixteenth century, and through many years of exporting, they spread this popular new beverage throughout Europe. As increase in popularity spread, so did the demand.