by Susan Allen – Owner and Herbalist at The Hawthorn Tree
The history of tea is steeped in legend and lore, with one of the most prominent figures being Emperor Shennong, a mythical ruler of ancient China. Shennong, also known as the “Divine Farmer,” is said to have lived over 5,000 years ago and is credited with introducing agriculture and herbal medicine to his people.
One of the most enduring legends about Shennong is his discovery of tea. According to the story, Shennong was traveling through his kingdom and stopped to rest under a camellia sinensis or tea tree. Most cultures during that time boiled their water to sterilize it and prevent disease. As Shennong boiled water for one of his medicinal concoctions, a few leaves from the tree fell into the pot. Shennong, being curious, decided to taste the resulting brew and was pleasantly surprised by its flavor and invigorating effects.
Shennong’s discovery of tea marked the beginning of a long and rich tradition of tea cultivation and consumption in China. Over the centuries, tea became an integral part of Chinese culture, with elaborate tea ceremonies and a wide variety of tea types and preparations. Tea was also prized for its medicinal properties.
Today tea is enjoyed by billions of people and several countries throughout the world have an equally rich culture and tradition around tea. In fact, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. Some estimates say that 6 billion cups of tea are consumed each day, surpassing coffee which is around 2.5 billion cups a day. At the Hawthorn Tree, we can honestly say we love both beverages equally.
In tea circles the word “tea” is strictly reserved to the camellia sinensis plant. While herbal beverages primarily consumed for pleasure are typically referred to as “tisanes.”
Most tea is generally categorized as black, green or white and varies by country, region, climate, elevation, soil conditions and methods of drying or oxidation. Many types of tea are enjoyed without any additives and tea connoisseurs, like wine sommeliers, will tell you each tea is quite unique and deserves special attention when preparing it for consumption. Some people enjoy added ingredients to enhance the tea flavor like fruits, herbs, flowers, spices and added flavors.
With more than 200 different loose leaf herbs, teas and spices on our shelves, many customers ask “where do I begin?” Our friendly staff is always here to answer your questions and our biggest advice is to have fun exploring different flavor profiles.
Most of our staff at The Hawthorn Tree are big nerds who like to experiment. Start with one herb or tea that interests you and go from there. If you like black tea but want a hint of lemon peel, we can easily mix that for you at no charge. The possibilities are endless.
We hope to upload more of our vast collection onto our website, but you are also welcome to give us a call to check and see if we have something in stock. We can easily ship directly to your house.
