the tea

Calle Lunga San Barnaba 2727A Dorsoduro - 30123 VENEZIA - Italy

Tel. +39.041.7241042 - Fax. +39.041.2771969  -  info@bedandbreakfast-fujiyama.it

The History

For thousands of years mankind has known and utilized the leaves of tea, nevertheless it is since the 350 B.C. that the cult of this plant became known in China and only around the 700 A.D. in Japan.

Thanks to Marco Polo’s journeys reports which are gathered in his book Milione, the custom to drink Chinese tea became known in Europe but it was in the XVI century that Giovanni Battista Ramusio, a Venetian humanist and geographer described it under the name of chai catai, in his book Della navigazione et viaggi, published in 1559.

The Dutch people who in 1606 had started their commercial relationship with China often confused sage with tea, whilst the British learned about it only in 1653, when they captured a Dutch ship with all the goods on board. It was Anna Stuart, the Queen of England, who by drinking tea for breakfast set the fashion in Europe.

The Legend

The Emperor Chen Nung reigned in China during the 2730 B.C. Going through his lands he once rested under a tree. Being thirsty he decided to warm up some water, but he fell asleep by looking at the dancing flame. Meanwhile, the wind caused some leaves to fall within the bronze container of the boiling water. The Emperor testing the drink was very surprised, and he considered that infusion made out of five elements, water, metal, wind, fire and plant, a divine gift.

The Varieties

Teas are divided in four categories,

1) black or red,

2) green,

3) oolong,

4) white or yellow.

The differences are not attributed to the diversity of the original plant, since Camelia sinensis, is the only tea plant, but to the various methods of preparation. From these four colours or categories is possible to obtain a large variety, if blended with flowers, or fruits or both.

Fujiyama Tea-Room offers a selection of green teas and oolong from China and from Japan together with a selection of classic and aromatic black teas.