The transition of tea from a medicine and food to a drink is said to have started in the Zhou Dynasty. It is believed that when King Wu attacked King Zhou, Zhou was forced to travel south. Unaccustomed to the climate and food, his soldiers were weakened and fatigued. Prince Zhou ordered his serfs to cook
tea leaves in huge pots. This custom spread. By the time of the Han Dynasty drinking tea had become a fashionable custom.
