There would be no teacup, teaspoon, or tea towel, and no tea time. And Lewis Carroll 's Alice in Wonderland would say nothing of the Mad Hatter's and March Hare's tea party. Luckily, tea was discovered in 2737 b.c. One day Shen Nung was boiling water outside when leaves from a nearby bush fell into the open kettle. Before Shen Nung could retrieve the leaves, they began to brew.
Tea is the most popular beverage in the world today-after plain water.
It was introduced in Europe in 1610, and until about two hundred years ago, people in many Asian countries used blocks or bricks of tea as money. Doubleday Recounting the fascinating stories behind the accidental inventions of forty familiar objects and products. This book profiles 40 popular herbs and spices used in making teas and includes complete instructions for growing, gathering, blending, and brewing them at home.