Legends about the origins of tea have been passed on from generation to generation. One such story, dating back to 2700 BCE, describes how tea leaves, blown by the wind, accidentally fell into a Chinese Herbalist's pot of hot water. The water now tasted of these wild leaves, and the herbalist, Shen Nung, found its soothing taste and fine flavors so irresistible that he instructed all of his people to drink in the wonders of the beverage.

Another story explains how the Indian Monk, Bodhidharma, sailed to China and went into a nine-year meditation. During this "Zen experience," he began to dose off and closed his eyes for a moment. He instantly cut off his eyelids to avoid sleeping, and where they fell to the ground a tea bush sprouted from the earth. And so the plant found another home with Buddhists in their meditation, helping them to stay awake and to maintain a high level of alertness and concentration.

There are many other stories about the origins of tea and how it found its way into our cup of boiling water. But the wonderful fact is we did not discover tea, "tu", "cha" or "tay," but that it discovered us through our openness and willingness to take in its beautiful offerings. Whether it was a Buddhist monk, an Emperor or a cultivator of the times, tea was-and still is-used to nurture the body and uplift the soul. The subtle flavors and health benefits of this magnificent plant make it the world's most popular beverage after water.

China enjoyed tea for centuries before it was introduced to the outside world through trade. It is believed that the Turkish Empire got its first taste of this wonderful commodity from a barter trade. Tea also made its way to Europe via the Portuguese outpost in Macau. And, most people know that tea came to America with the early British settlers. Now in the 21st Century, tea is enjoyed even in the most remote corners of the world.