Origin of Camellias

Camellia sinensis - chá shù (茶树) or chá yè (茶叶)  is the national drink of China.  The black rival to Camellia the coffee berry where cultivated in the gardens of Muslims munks 1000 years ago. But the Camella culture started long before that. An ancient Chinese legend, that dates back 5000 years ago, tells that Shen Nung, a skilled ruler and creative scientist, was the first to discover and enjoy delicious effect of tea leaves and hot water. While visiting a distant region one summer day, he stopped to rest. In accordance with his ruling that all drinking water be boiled (as a hygienic precaution), the servants began to boil water for him and his advisors to drink. Dried leaves from the nearby bush fell into the boiling water, making the clear water transform to a pale green. As a scientist, the Emperor was interested in the new liquid, drank some and found it very refreshing.