According to legend, the mythical Chinese Emperor Shen Nung, sometimes depicted as half man and half ox, is credited with discovering tea.

The story goes that Shen Nung, who was known for his love of plants and his interest in their medicinal properties, was boiling water in a pot when some leaves from a nearby tea plant blew into the pot. Shen Nung tasted the resulting brew and was pleased with its flavor; thus, the tradition of drinking tea was born. This legend is often cited as one of the earliest accounts of the discovery and use of tea in Chinese culture.