The Indian legend regarding the discovery of tea centers around Bodhidharma, an Indian Buddhist monk from the 5th or 6th century AD who traveled to China. According to the legend, Bodhidharma often fell asleep during long meditation sessions and, to stay awake, he cut off his eyelids. The place where his eyelids fell is said to have sprouted tea plants. The leaves from these plants, when brewed in hot water, created tea, which helped banish sleep and allowed Bodhidharma and other monks to remain alert during meditation. This story symbolizes tea’s energizing qualities tied to spirituality and discipline.
Additionally, there is a popular Chinese legend involving Emperor Shen Nong, who discovered tea when tea leaves accidentally fell into his boiling water, creating a refreshing infusion. However, the Indian legend specifically attributes tea’s discovery and its initial use as a stimulant to Bodhidharma’s experience during meditation.
