THE ORIGIN OF TEA: HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY AND ROUTES OF DISPERSAL

This article examines the origins of the tea plant, its natural distribution, the early processes of domestication, and the historical routes through which tea spread across different regions of the world. It discusses the botanical and geographical characteristics of areas associated with tea in southwestern China, northern Myanmar, and northeastern India, the development of tea consumption in ancient China, and the role of tea in regional and international trade. Particular attention is paid to the different branches of the Silk Road, trade routes across the Tibetan Plateau, maritime commerce, and the development of tea trading networks in Central Asia during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The study draws on archaeobotanical evidence, molecular genetic research, and historical sources. The dissemination of tea is interpreted as a long-term process shaped by natural geographical conditions, commercial infrastructure, and cultural interaction. By applying historical geographical and cartographic approaches, the article explores the relationships between tea-growing regions, centres of consumption, and major trade routes. It also highlights the importance of distinguishing the natural distribution of the tea plant from its domestication and the subsequent expansion of tea-drinking practices.