China is the first country to discover and utilize tea, and it is also the birthplace of world tea culture. The conclusion that tea tree originated in China has been widely accepted by tea scholars. According to relevant written materials, our ancestors began to plant and use tea as early as 3000 years ago. Tea tree scholars and botanists have come to the conclusion that tea trees originated in southwest China by analyzing historical records, wild tea tree distribution, tea tree evolution, tea tree distribution law and geological characteristics in southwest China.
These three Miao people are recorded in ancient books, such as Historical Records and Biography of Wuqi and Shuoyuan. Shennong is the leader of Sanmiao and Jiuli tribes. Relevant data show that tea was popular in Sichuan, China as early as the Qin and Han Dynasties. During the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), Sichuan specialty tea was brought to Chang 'an, the capital, as a tribute, which is also an important feature of tea trees originating in southwest China.
As early as around 200 AD, there were records about wild tea trees in China's literary work Erya. So far, wild tea trees have been found in 10 provinces and regions in China. In Yunnan Province alone, there are more than a dozen wild tea trees whose trunk diameter exceeds 1 m, and one of them has a history of about 1.700 years. The wild tea tree was discovered in India in 1824, and some foreign scholars questioned the origin of this plant. In fact, the wild tea tree found in India was originally imported from China, and China tea tree is a variety of China tea tree. At present, tea scholars have different views on the origin time of tea. There are mainly four viewpoints: Shennong period, Western Zhou period, Qin and Han period and Tang dynasty.
Now we think tea is a drink, but the ancients didn't think so. They mainly use tea in three ways: as medicine; Second, as a sacrifice; Third, it is used as food. According to historical records, tea was very popular in the Tang and Song Dynasties.
Judging from the distribution of tea trees in the United States, tea trees are mainly concentrated in Asia, Africa and Latin America. At present, the climate and geological conditions in more than 50 countries in the world are suitable for the growth of tea trees. Among them, the output of black tea accounts for more than 70% of the world's total tea, with the most varieties. China is the country that produces the most green tea in the world, accounting for 60% of the world's green tea production. Among the tea-producing countries, only China, Indian, Sri Lankan, Indonesian, Kenyan and Turkish have large-scale tea gardens.
There are four first-class tea areas in China, namely Southwest Tea Area, South China Tea Area, Jiangnan Tea Area and Jiangbei Tea Area. Southwest tea-growing areas, including Sichuan, Guizhou, Chongqing, Tibet and Yunnan, are the oldest tea-growing areas in China. Rich in black tea, green tea, Tuocha and Pu 'er tea, it is the main base of Dayehong broken tea. For example: Pu 'er tea. South China Tea Area is the most suitable area for growing tea in China, including Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Taiwan Province and Hainan. Tea produced in South China is suitable for Pu 'er tea, black tea, Liubao tea, big leaf green tea and oolong tea. Such as Tieguanyin and Dahongpao; Jiangnan tea areas include Zhejiang, Hunan, Jiangxi and other provinces, as well as southern Anhui, southern Jiangsu and southern Hubei, accounting for about two-thirds of the national tea production. Mainly produces oolong tea, green tea and scented tea. Such as: West Lake Longjing, Dongting Biluochun; Jiangbei tea area includes southeastern Shandong, southeastern Shaanxi, southern Gansu, northern Hubei, southern Henan and northern Anhui. Tea tree is a shrub-like lobular tree species. Such as Xinyang Maojian tea and Lu 'an melon slices.