ORIGIN OF TEA-DRINK-ING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8912, 25 April 1907, Page 2

ORIGIN OF TEA-DRINK--ING.

SAID TO BE 3000 B.C.

As afternoon tea has become such an established custom on this side of the water, it is well to know something of the origin of tear-drinking.

It in needless to say that China claims to have discovered the use of tea as a drink, and there is a very pretty legend connected with it, which, is as follows: —

In the dim past of that land of ancient history the daughter of a reigning sovereign was desperately in love with a young nobleman, whose caste did not permit him to marry her. At every opportunity they exchanged loving glances, and from time to time he gathered some flowers and had them taken to his lady-love. While walking in the palace grounds one day the princess met her admirer, and while her attendants were not watching he tried to give her seme blossoms, but all she grasped was a- little green-leaved twig.

Tiiis she protected carefully and placed it in. a goblet of water upon reaching her apartment. Here for a few hours gliol gave it her tendered:care, and at last- overcome by her love and being possessed of a very sentimental nature, she drank the water in which the twig Avas kept. Being impressed with, the agreeable flavour she ate the twig itself.

Tli© taste pleased her greatly, so in memory of lier lover she had bunches of tea leaves brought to her each, day and ate them ot drank the water in which they were jdaced. Mariy of the ladies at the court observed this habib of the princess, and whether from sentimental motives or not, they began to follow her example. The result was so satisfactory that the practice became general throughout China and occupation was given to countless numbers of people.

It is claimed that this occurred 3000 years before the coining of Christ.