Prehistoric Tea – Historical Perspective

     Prehistory, simply put, is the time-line of everything prior to the invention of human record keeping. The generally accepted start of history is with the first cuneiform writing developed sometime around 3700 BCE in Babylon. In the regions of the world where the tea tree evolved, historical records start as far back as 2100 BCE. The first record of tea in China was the legend of the first emperor, Shennong, in 2737 BCE. This still leaves hundreds of generations prior, during which the ancestors of the modern Chinese were surely not unaware of the natural world around them. Ancient people may not have had the time to invent writing, but that does not mean they were in any way less capable or intelligent than we are today. They were more focused on practical matters, such as survival and discovery of ways to make life less dangerous.

     One of the first practical discoveries by human ancestors was fire. It was one of the most important tools ever harnessed. It allowed protection, control over living conditions and the cooking of food. Raw foods, both meat and plant, are more difficult to digest. Cooking also kills off bacteria and parasites that would have caused many illnesses and deaths. Without understanding the exact mechanisms, ancient people came to understand that cooking was healthier in many instances.

     There are tribal people today that still use simple cups formed from large leaves. These are often suspended above low controlled fires or coals and used to heat water. Thanks to the presence of water absorbing the heat, these leaves will dry and burn on the edges, but only down to the height of the water inside. This heated water is used to steep leaves and berries for flavor, but also has the effect of nullifying many harmful pathogens. Again, without knowing the deeper reasons, people discovered that heating water helped keep you healthier. The use of various plants for both a vessel and flavoring created all manner of what we would call teas by modern standards.

     There is evidence that the earliest pottery found in China dates back to over 8,000 BCE. This is well before the legends of Shennong's servants bringing him his cup of hot water, into which had fallen a few dead and dried tea leaves. While legends are one way of giving people a way of explaining history, the truth is more likely that people had discovered over generations that the leaves of one particular tree, when dried and boiled, created a drink that gave a mild lift. Those who drank it on a regular basis tended to be healthier, and felt more lively. This would have become part of the folklore and tradition of the region, passed on from generation to generation for thousands of years.

     Tea, is seems, is a natural extension of human evolution from hunters and gatherers to a group that began to harness the forces of nature to improve life. It is as much part of our history as part of our daily refreshment.