A Brief History of Tea
Addiction, Exploitation, and Empire
Author: Roy Moxham Series: Brief Histories
From tea's first discovery in China to the present day, the story of a great world obsession
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Summary
From tea's first discovery in China to the present day, the story of a great world obsession
Description
'Absorbing and sometimes shocking' - Literary Review
'A masterful historical study' - The Good Book GuideBehind the wholesome image of the world's most popular drink lies a strangely murky and often violent past. From its first discovery to the present day, this is an extraordinary story of a great world obsession.When tea began to be imported into the West from China in the seventeenth century, its high price and heavy taxes made it an immediate target for smuggling and dispute at every level, culminating in international incidents like the notorious Boston Tea Party. In China itself the British financed their tea dealings by the ruthless imposition of the opium trade. Intrepid British tea planters soon began flocking to India, Ceylon and Africa, setting up huge plantations; often workers were bought and sold like slaves.Roy Moxham's account of this extraordinary history begins with his own sojourn in Africa, managing 500 acres of tea and a thousand-strong workforce. His experiences inform the book and led him to investigate the early history of tea - and the results of his researches reflect little credit on the British Empire, while often revealing a fascinating world story.Critic Reviews
“Absorbing - and sometimes shocking.”
- Literary Review
Very well written . . . enlightening. - Financial TimesA masterful historical study. - Good Book GuideThis book is a fascinating mix of personal experience, a passion for the subject and an enthralling history. - Yorkshire Gazette and HeraldAbout the Author
Roy Moxham is the highly acclaimed author of The Great Hedge of India. He is a former tea planter and gallery owner and was latterly book conservator for Canterbury Cathedral and the University of London. He now lives in London and India.
'Absorbing and sometimes shocking' - Literary Review 'A masterful historical study' - The Good Book Guide Behind the wholesome image of the world's most popular drink lies a strangely murky and often violent past. From its first discovery to the present day, this is an extraordinary story of a great world obsession.When tea began to be imported into the West from China in the seventeenth century, its high price and heavy taxes made it an immediate target for smuggling and dispute at every level, culminating in international incidents like the notorious Boston Tea Party. In China itself the British financed their tea dealings by the ruthless imposition of the opium trade. Intrepid British tea planters soon began flocking to India, Ceylon and Africa, setting up huge plantations; often workers were bought and sold like slaves.Roy Moxham's account of this extraordinary history begins with his own sojourn in Africa, managing 500 acres of tea and a thousand-strong workforce. His experiences inform the book and led him to investigate the early history of tea - and the results of his researches reflect little credit on the British Empire, while often revealing a fascinating world story.
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