Herbal tea is a drink enjoyed by many for its medicinal benefits, delicious flavor, aroma, and soothing effects. But where are the roots of herbal tea planted? Does the creation of this delicious drink lie in ancient China with the discovery of the tea plant, or in Egypt with the first production of exotic herbs and spices?
Herbal “Tea”
Herbal tea, strictly speaking, is not “tea” as we commonly think of it. The practice of adding herbs and spices to boiling water and allowing the mixture to steep into a flavorful drink dates back for centuries. The Romans and Egyptians, famous in ancient times for their production of rich and exotic herbs and spices, were likely among the first to practice this method of creating herbal tea.
The Tea Plant
Camellia Sinensis, or the tea plant, is a native plant of China. It is therefore easy to believe that the creation of tea itself has its beginnings there. While the exact origin of tea has never been established, a variety of legends circle around the creation of the drink. One of the more popular legends in China concerning the discovery of tea, circles around the ancient Chinese Emperor Shen Nung, who believed boiling water before drinking it was beneficial to one’s health. According to legend, about 5000 years ago, while on a long journey, Shen Nung stopped to rest as his servants started a fire to boil some water. As it happened, some of the twigs gathered to start the fire were from a nearby tea plant. As the water boiled, leaves from the twigs found their way into the water. As the tea leaves slowly began to steep and discolor the boiling water, Emperor Shen Nung’s curiosity got the best of him, and he sampled the combination. To his surprise, the brew had an enjoyable flavor, and tea was introduced to the world.
Herbal Tea is an age old tradition and carries many helath benefits
The Creation of Herbal Tea
As the exotic herbs and spices of the Egyptians quickly traveled across the continent to various countries, the value of these precious commodities, both medicinally and monetarily, were discovered, and the spice trade was born. It was perhaps inevitable that the rich herbs and spices of the Egyptians were soon introduced to the flavorful tea plant of China. The coming together of these two ancient traditions led to the creation of what we commonly refer to as true Herbal tea today.
