The Shen Nong Bencao, a classic piece of of Chinese Medical literature dating back to the period 221 BC-AD 24, indicates the prevalence of tea culture in ancient times [Sichuan, China]. But that tea came from wild plants. The first recorded "plantation" was that of grower Wu Lizhen in 53 BC on Mengshan in Mingshan County (Sichuan).

Since then, the small garden where Wu Lizhen grew his seven tea trees (53 BC) witnessed for 1170 years an annual ritual, as the Mengshan tea was designated an imperial tribute (AD 742~1911). Those seven tea trees have been replaced every 300 to 400 years. The current trees are about 70+ years old.