An old Chinese legend claims that tea has been around since as far back as 2737 B.C., when leaves from an overhanging Camellia sinensis plant fell intro Emperor Shennong’s cup of boiling water. As one of the most consumed beverages around the world, tea offers an array of health benefits including reducing cancer and heart disease risk, to improving dental health and boosting weight loss, according to the Cleveland, Ohio-based Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
The number of Americans who drink tea today exceeds 158 million, which is about half of the U.S. population, the Academy says, citing a survey from the Tea Association of the U.S.A. Inc. The trend of increased consumer purchases of tea is expected to continue during the next five years, it adds.