Tea

Abstract

Tea, in the context used by most consumers, is a beverage consisting of an infusion of the processed and dried leaves of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis. Tea has been consumed since antiquity and, while the origin of the beverage remains unknown, the Chinese are recognized as being regular consumers by the 5th century AD. Tea was first drunk for its supposed medicinal properties, but subsequently became accepted merely as a refreshing beverage. The tea drinking habit gradually spread along the trade routes of Asia minor and was introduced to Europe by Dutch traders during the 17th century. In England, tea overtook coffee in popularity during the 18th century and has been established as the ’national drink’ since that time.