The history of tea may possibly date back to 2737 B.C. The commonly held story in China states that the emperor Sheng-nung discovered green tea accidentally while boiling water near a tea plant. Some of the leaves fell into the water and the emperor liked the taste!

Green tea has become one of the most well researched natural foods. There has actually been over 1000 studies conducted with green tea to find evidence of its health-promoting properties. The research has found that green tea contains powerful antioxidants called catechins that are very powerful in protecting us from oxidative stress.

Even though Britain, by far, is the most famous tea drinking country in the west, the Dutch are actually attributed with being the first nation to export tea to the west. The Dutch East India Company sent the first shipment of tea to Europe in 1606. It was a big hit, so by 1610 the Dutch were shipping tea back home on a regular basis.

The other common story is of prince Siddhartha during the 6th century. After denouncing his claim to the throne, Siddhartha vowed to meditate for nine years without sleep. Five years into his vow he became a little drowsy and was drawn to chew the leaves of the Camellia sinesis plant, finding that it helped him become alert.

Siddhartha carried the leaves and seeds with him throughout his travels, eventually bringing them to Japan. The monks there embraced the tea and also used it for their meditation practices to help keep them focused. Eventually this practice of drinking green tea became an art in Japan, evolving into the famous Japanese tea ceremony.

As a result of the Dutch exports, the first teas served up in Britain were done so at coffee houses - at very expensive prices! The popularity of tea in Britain didn't begin until they started receiving exports from the East India Company in the 18th century. This popularity grew even more during the British Colonization of India in 1858, when exports of tea increased further.

It was also the Dutch that introduced tea to the US. Dutch settlers brought tea with them to a colony once called New Amsterdam around 1650, where it became a very popular drink. Dutch trade of tea also expanded to the US by this time, ensuring the supply of tea for the New Amsterdam residents.

These catechins are not just powerful antioxidants, but can also aid weight loss. Many studies show that catechins can somehow speed up our metabolism. One Japanese study suggests that in high doses, green tea can burn as much as an extra 70-80 calories per day!

Joseph Edwards enjoys writing about and drinking tea, especially green tea! He is also an advocate of green living, and, well, all things green! For more information about green tea visit Benefits of Drinking Green Tea .

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