Tea and wine are time-honored drinks in China. Along with coffee and cocoa, tea, as one of the non-alcoholic plant beverages, is prevailing the world. Tea and Chinese medicine has a very close relationship. Chinese herbs taken as tea forming the tea-like medicinal tea, can be taken frequently at anytime. The application of Chinese herbs taken as tea drinking begins from the Tang Dynasty, flourishes in the Song Dynasty and matures in the Qing Dynasty. The review of its history provides ample evidence of Chinese herbs taken as tea drinking in treating and preventing diseases, as well as providing the clues and references of developing new Chinese herbs taking as tea.
自古以来酒与茶是中国最负盛名的饮品，而起源于中国的茶，是风靡世界三大不含酒精的植物性饮品(咖啡、可可、茶)之一。茶与中医药有着非常紧密的联系。中药代茶饮即仿茶类药茶，以药代茶，不计时候，频频饮之。中药代茶饮始于唐代，盛于宋代，至清代趋于成熟。回顾中药代茶饮的历史，既可为研究中医防病治病和养生保健提供丰富的资料，也可为研究开发历代中药代茶饮方和新的代茶饮方提供线索与借鉴。.
Keywords: Chinese herbs taking as tea drinking; Herbal tea; Tea.