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2700 BCE
Chinese leader Shen Nong discovers the tea leaf while experimenting with herbs. Likely to be consumed raw. https://www.peonyts.com/shen-nong-the-tea-leaf-in-the-cauldron-did-it-happen/ Image taken from WikiCommons -
How did the consumption of tea evolve from the single leaf to the 6 major categories we have today?
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In the Chronicles of Anzi, it was documented that tea leaves were consumed as a broth, brewed with scallions, ginger and dried orange skin, https://www.peonyts.com/a-brief-history-of-tea-in-china-part-i/
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In the document 'Guang Yu' it was recorded that tea leaves were sun-dried or baked before consumption
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In Xu Ci Xu's 'Cha Shu', yellow tea made a written appearance. It was believed to be discovered from a failed attempt at producing green tea- either oversteamed or too much humidity. https://www.peonyts.com/what-exactly-is-yellow-tea/
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In Hunan, Anhua dark teas were produced, compressed in brick forms to be transported on horseback. Anhua dark tea continues to be produced today. https://www.peonyts.com/what-is-dark-tea/
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The Magistrate of Cong An County first documented the production of oolong tea in Wuyishan. https://www.peonyts.com/oolong-tea-the-origins-and-how-it-spread/
https://www.peonyts.com/what-is-oolong-tea/ -
The first production of black tea was documented in Xingcun Village, near Wuyishan. What is today known as Zhengshan Xiaozhong or Lapsang Souchong. https://www.peonyts.com/what-is-black-tea/
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White tea was produced in Fuding, Fujian by withering the leaves under the sun and baking. The first white tea as we know today was the Silver Needles- Bai Hao Yin Zhen https://www.peonyts.com/what-is-white-tea/
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In 57 BCE, a man by the name of Wang Bao wrote an 'employment contract' where the lengthy duties of the slave included brewing tea and washing the utensils.
This was probably the earliest documented evidence of dedicated utensils for brewing tea
https://www.peonyts.com/a-brief-history-of-tea-in-china-part-i/ -
In Lu Yu's seminal work- Cha Jing- The Classics of Tea, it was documented that teas were steamed dried. It was also the first written appearance of powdered tea.
