Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, second only to water. From the ancient Chinese and Japanese cultures to the British afternoon tea tradition, tea has played a significant role in human history and culture. But it's not just the taste and aroma that make tea so beloved, it also has numerous health benefits. Tea originated in China, where it was first consumed as a medicinal drink. The Chinese emperor Shen Nong is said to have discovered tea in 2737 BC when some leaves from a nearby Camellia sinensis plant accidentally blew into his pot of boiling water. The emperor found the resulting beverage to be refreshing and energizing, and it wasn't long before tea became a staple of Chinese culture. As tea spread throughout Asia, it also played a significant role in religious and spiritual practices. In Buddhism, for example, tea was often consumed during meditation and was considered to be a symbol of harmony and balance. In Japan, the traditional tea ceremony (s...