Who doesn’t love a good cuppa? Whether it’s black or fruit, enjoyed with a biscuit or on its own, sipped first thing in the morning or before bed, this beloved beverage is a staple in most homes.

But did you know that International Tea Day is celebrated every year on 21st April?

The Tea Group introduced the day in 2016, making this very British celebration 10 this year!

Tea may be considered a very British drink - we collectively consume more than 60 billion cups a year (which is over 165 million cups a day!) - but it actually originates from China!

The UK Tea & Infusions Association says that “According to legend, in 2737 BC, the Chinese emperor Shen Nung was sitting beneath a tree while his servant boiled drinking water, when some leaves from the tree blew into the water. Shen Nung, a renowned herbalist, decided to try the infusion that his servant had accidentally created. The tree was a Camellia sinensis, and the resulting drink was what we now call tea.”

Although this is a legend, it’s a fact that tea was in China many centuries before it travelled to our shores. Containers for tea have been found in tombs dating from the Han dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD).

Dutch traders started bringing it to Europe in large quantities in the 1500s. It arrived in Britain in the 1650s, and was popularised by Catherine of Braganza, wife of King Charles II.

Catherine’s father, King John IV of Portugal, provided with her several ships full of luxury goods when she married, including a chest of tea. Tea became popular in the aristocracy as a result, and over time it took the country by storm.

When you brew tea, there is centuries of history in each leaf. Why not celebrate this historic and delicious drink on International Tea Day with a cup of your favourite tea?

You can also find a variety of tea hampers on bunches.co.uk so that you can share this wonderful day with your loved ones!