Herbal Tea History

The gathering of herbs already existed 3000 years ago. Egyptians and Babylonians had used herbs like cinnamon, turmeric, and garlic as offerings to the gods and emperors.

The uses of herbs and spice in cooking and treating illnesses gradually travel to India, China, and Greek.
Later the Romans started to expand the knowledge of herbs and spices' uses by writing at 40 books about all kinds of herbs.

Herbal tea history - the role of Romans

Romans began to build large ships and sailed them across the Indian Ocean for Asia. But when the Roman Empire weakened, the Arab merchants secured this spice trading routes and became monopoly in the spice industry at that time.

By 11th century, Europeans discovered the potential of herbs and spice trades, took control of this trading routes. Venice then became one of the most bustle trading center in the West. Every merchant had things to sell or people wanted to buy things had to make a trip to Venice.

Later, France and England also participated in the race for spices. The East India Company of England secured its prominent place in the herbs industry for awhile before it lost its suppliers to other competitors.

America joined the race of importing herbs?

When America won its independence from England, it also built its own ships (often called clippers) to transport tea, herbs, and spice from the East back to America. Gradually, herbs reached Africa and South America.
Today, herbs are abundant in quantity as well as varieties. To choose a herbal tea that suit your taste isn't not so difficult. You just have to search around and experiment a bit, I'm sure you will find the herbal tea that you like...