The story of the origin of teas is a complex and mythical one. Some attribute it to Emperor Shennong, in China, in 2000 B.C.E. A herbalist himself, Shennong researched and studied an accidental drink created by a leaf (from a nearby tea plant) falling into a pot of boiling water. This resulting drink was so soothing and relaxing that this was adopted by him as a medicinal drink providing natural remedies for common ailments. Others say that tea was created because Bodhidharma, the founder of Chan Buddhism, cut his eyelids out of disgust of falling asleep during a long session of meditation lasting nine years! The eyelids are said to have sprouted into tea bushes when they fell to the ground.

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Whatever the story, throughout the centuries, more and more people started devoting their time and effort into studying the different varieties of teas to discover their medicinal properties. The benefits of consuming tea have been widely documented ever since that first sip. For example, green tea has been linked with less disability among the elderly. And green, black, oolong and white teas have shown to rev up the immune system and may protect against certain diseases, including arthritis. Many more benefits are being discovered on a daily basis. 

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Teas are usually a hot drink made by pouring boiling water over the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis. The infusion or addition of fruits, spices, roots, or other plant materials for their medicinal properties or flavors makes for a herbal tea. Herbal teas do not usually contain caffeine. Likewise, the herbal teas that Ivory Naturals bring to you have the medicinal properties as described below, with little to no caffeine.