Tibetan Tea History

Chinese Tea History

China is the earliest nation to explore and drink the tea throughout the world. In BC 10th century, the small kingdoms of southern China present the tea to the Chou royal. When comes to Han Dynasty, the business of the tea has been formed and developed quickly. In BC 61 of Hanxuan Emperor Dynasty, there was a record of tea business in history date. At that time, drinking the tea became a common habit of people. People start to present the tea to the old people or friends, or worship the ancestors. The tea was regarded to be good and helpful to the health.

In Tang Dynasty, the cultivated area of the tea was expanded, and meanwhile the technology of making the tea was improved, too. At that time, the amount of the tea has played the important role of the social economy. According to the history record, the tax of the tea has been levied in Tang Dynasty. In AD 8th Century, the record of tea's character, quality, place of origin, manufacturing process, drinking ways, etc, have been taken notes in a book which written by Luyu. This book is the first one to introduce the tea of China.

In the south part of China, the fragrant tea is also highly praised as the sweet dew. People living there created the different tea culture and developed it by generations.

Tibetan Tea History

The tea has been introduced into Tibet region since the 7th century. In AD 71, The kingdom of Tubo Dynasty got married with Jincheng Princess. The polics, economy, education and culture of Tang Dynaster and Tubo Dynastery have influenced each other and developed very quickly. Since the road have been constructed between Tibet region and Tang Dynastery territory, the business has been promoted, too. Diffrent types of the tea have transacted since then. When comes to the 8th century, it is common to drink to the tea in Tibet region.

With the develpment of the tea, the tea culture has been spread quickly. The Zampo (the king of Tibet region) has also leard the tea ceremony from the monks who come from China. Then the tea ceremony was paid much attention by Tubo royal at that time and has been successfully succeeded by generations.

During the middle period of the 9th century, Tubo dynasty collapsed. But the tea business between Tibet region and ancient China have been operated succeessfully. In the middle period of the 10th century, the tea has been introduced into the southern Tibet, which has been told in a book writen in the 11th century.

In the 13th century, Qinghai - Tibet plateau has been unified by Yuan Dynasty. The tea culture has been promoted and developed in the society, which was accepted by the royal families, ordinary people and monks. In the 1275, the tea has been used in the large religious ceremony and the monks start to drink the tea. Since then, drinking the tea has become the important thing in Tibetan's daily life. Nowadays, Tibetans love drinking the tea every day.