Tea is the world’s most popular beverage, but since the Boston Tea Party Americans have not given it the respect it deserves. The special place tea occupies in so many other cultures is not accidental - it fuels introspection, inducing a healthy, contemplative perspective - it prompts us to look at things in a more meaningful way. Green, White, Oolong, Black and Pu-erh are but some of many types of tea. However all true tea are made from one plant - Camellia sinensis. They differ among themselves by the environment in which they are grown. Camellia has its roots in southern China where it was first discovered, circa 2700 BC. By the seventh century AD, tea had spread to India, Turkey and Russia, and arrived in Japan following the path of Buddhism. It was first sold in England in 1657 and became popular in the American Colonies in the 1700’s. It took a nosedive in the 20th century when it was packaged in the tea bag.