Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c32.s2.31

c32.s2.31

**Tea Drinking.** It is interesting to note that on his first setting foot on Tibetan soil Atīśa was entertained with the national drink of Tibet which was *Tea*. The Tibetan monk, offering the drink which was unknown to the Indian guest, described it thus: "Venerable Sir, it is called *chā*... We do not know that the *chā* plant is eaten, but the leaves are churned (being mixed with soda, salt, and butter) in warm water and the soup is drunk. It has many properties." It will thus appear that the use of Tea spread from Tibet to India [Buddhist Texts Society Journal, Part I, 1893, p. 27].