Tea has maintained a prominent role in Chinese culture and business since ancient times. The tea trade between China and the other parts of the world can be traced back to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), over 1,000 years ago and has long proved a very valuable commodity.

Residents of the region now known as Zhejiang province are said to have grown tea since the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). The first tea monograph in the world 'The Classic of Tea' was written in Zhejiang province and much of tribute tea paid to emperors originated in the East China province.

Residents of the region now known as Zhejiang province are said to have grown tea since the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). [Photo/zjol.com.cn]