Lower Intermediate Stories

Tea
The story of tea began in China 5000 years ago. Emperor Shen Nong ordered his servants to some drinking water. Some leaves fell into the water. When the emperor saw this he became interested and decided to taste it. He was pleased with the taste. He said it refreshing.

Tea drinking spread throughout China. A Japanese Buddhist priest, Yeisei, brought tea to Japan. He is called ‘the father of Japanese tea.’ The developed a Tea Ceremony. Some women spend many learning and practising the tea ceremony. It is important that the act is perfect, polite, and charming.

Europeans began to hear about tea, but didn’t know much about . One traveller said the leaves were , salted, buttered, and eaten! From 1600 Europeans began to trade with China and tea became popular.