Cha, chai, thee or 'simply' tea: all these terms refer to the same thing, i.e. the internationally renowned refreshing drink that is easy to prepare. According to language experts, the different words used for 'our' tea are related to the route that the drink has travelled.

The source of our tea culture is China. The Chinese have been drinking tea for thousands of years. The origins are said to lie with the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung, who apparently discovered tea by accident during his travels. He saw leaves floating in a pan of boiling water and noticed that this produced a delightful aroma.