<Tr> <Th> Introduced </Th> <Td> First recorded in China in 59 BC, though probably originated earlier . </Td> </Tr> <P> Tea is an aromatic beverage commonly prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis, an evergreen shrub native to Asia . After water, it is the most widely consumed drink in the world . There are many different types of tea; some teas, like Darjeeling and Chinese greens, have a cooling, slightly bitter, and astringent flavour, while others have vastly different profiles that include sweet, nutty, floral or grassy notes . </P> <P> Tea originated in Southwest China, where it was used as a medicinal drink . It was popularized as a recreational drink during the Chinese Tang dynasty, and tea drinking spread to other East Asian countries . Portuguese priests and merchants introduced it to Europe during the 16th century . During the 17th century, drinking tea became fashionable among Britons, who started large - scale production and commercialization of the plant in India to bypass the Chinese monopoly . </P> <P> The term herbal tea usually refers to infusions of fruit or herbs made without the tea plant, such as steeps of rosehip, chamomile, or rooibos . These are sometimes called tisanes or herbal infusions to prevent confusion with tea made from the tea plant . </P>

Where does tea come from in the world