有人说早在五千年前，中国就有了茶树（tea-shrub）。

China is the homeland of tea. It is believed that China has tea shrubs as early as five to six thousand years ago, and human cultivation of tea pants can date back two thousand years ago. Tea from China, along with her silk and porcelain, began to be known the world over more than a thousand years ago and has since always been an important Chinese exports. At present more than forty countries in the world grow tea with Asian countries producing 90% of the world’s total output. All tea trees in other countries have their origin directly or indirectly in China.