Tea is a beverage prepared from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis shrub. Its exact origins are obscure, but it was almost certainly first drunk in China, and may have been known there as long as 5000 years ago. Originally cultivated by monks as a health drink and as an aid to meditation it became more widely appreciated also for its aromatic and generally pleasant and refreshing qualities. The consumption of high quality tea was a status symbol of the wealthy in China with the leaves of some especially prized shrubs being reserved for the Emperor's personal use.

During the time of the Tang Dynasty in China (618 - 907) - often regarded as a high point in Chinese culture, many ideas were developed and refined and spread to Korea and Japan. This is true of tea culture, with the first imports and cultivation of tea in Japan occurring during this time. The Japanese Emperor Saga (reigned 809 - 823) is thought to have been the first Japanese Emperor to drink tea as well as being a renowned scholar of Chinese classics and calligraphy.

At the Edinburgh Japanese Green Tea Society, we are particularly interested in Japanese Green Tea, its history, cultivation, culture and health benefits. We try to study this in as broad a context as possible, with the rapport between Chinese and Japanese tea being a major focus, as are the health benefits of tea compared with other beverages and dietary supplements.