NCERT · Class 10 · English · First Flight: Glimpses of IndiaWhat is the Chinese legend regarding the discovery of tea?

There are several fascinating legends regarding the discovery of tea, and one of the most popular ones is the Chinese legend. According to this story, there was a Chinese emperor who always boiled water before drinking it. One day, while he was boiling the water, a few leaves from the twigs burning under the pot fell into the water. These leaves gave the water a delicious and unique flavor. It is said that those leaves were tea leaves, and this event marked the discovery of the beverage. This legend highlights the accidental nature of the discovery and how tea became a staple drink in China before spreading to the rest of the world. Rajvir mentions that tea was first drunk in China as far back as 2700 B.C., and words like 'chai' and 'chini' actually have their roots in the Chinese language. This story adds a mythical charm to the history of tea, suggesting that its refreshing properties were recognized by royalty through a simple accident of nature.