The China History Podcast

To wind down this History of Tea series let's go from province to province and look at a variety of famous teas such as Longjing, Gunpowder, Huangshan Maofeng, Lu'an Guapian, Xinyang Maojian, Taiping Houkui and a few others. All of the teas to be introduced here, all began their brilliant careers as tribute teas sent annually to the emperor. You too can savor these teas fit for an emperor by purchasing them online at any number of online (and offline) tea sellers. There are thousands of different teas in the world. In this episode and in Part 20, we'll look at a few of them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we focus on the category of tea that is most admired by many tea experts the world over. Pu-Erh tea was introduced sometime during the Ming Dynasty and in time, became the oft-called "King of Teas" for its rich and unique flavor, wholly unlike any other tea produced in China. Here we will look at the story of Pu-Erh tea and why it is considered to be so special among countless tea experts. For a good source of Pu-Erh teas, try my friend at https://www.banateacompany.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Processing tea leaves was never an intuitive process. That's one reason it took so long for others to figure out how to do it. But as it was with silk, once you saw how it was done, it wasn't a terribly difficult process to master and even improve upon. In this Part 17 episode, we see how Robert Fortune gathered the tea seeds, plants, tools, and experts and got them to the Indian highlands. There, a British dream team of botanists and horticulturalists take over the job begun by Robert Fortune. Their hard work helped to launch the tea industry in India. We also look at James Taylor's efforts to plant tea in Ceylon and how his business-savvy partner in this venture brought tea to the world. This partner was Thomas J. Lipton, the one who brought us the ubiquitous Lipton Tea. What a character he was! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hero who assured Robert Fortune's success was Dr. Nathanial Bagshaw Ward. His life and work is introduced this time. Ward's invention of the terrarium was the one thing that ensured Fortune's hard work in China wouldn't be wasted. We see how Fortune went into China, scored plants and tea seeds from Zhejiang, Anhui, and Fujian, and transported everything safely to India. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The mid 19th Century brought another sea change to the tea industry. Demand continued to grow all over Europe and North America. China's tea industry, which depended mainly on countless artisanal tea growers rather than a few large-scale producers, creates bottlenecks and unreliability in the tea supply chain. The demand had become more than China's exporters could handle. This was also due in part to the well-known political and social disasters happening in China during the second half of the 19th century. The British East India Company begins to put serious consideration into growing tea in India to cut the Chinese out. We also meet Charles Bruce, the Father of India's Tea Industry. We also encounter the botanist, horticulturist, and man of adventure Robert Fortune. We close the episode with the exploits of Fortune's first China trip and his discovery that green and black teas both come from the exact same species of plant, Camellia sinensis. The famous Guangcai porcelain 光彩 of Guangzhou (Canton) is also briefly explained. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Midway through the Qing Dynasty trouble is brewing, along with the tens of millions of pounds of tea annually exported to Britain. The Qianlong Emperor rebuffs Britain's envoy and puts a major damper on the prospects of China trade. Britain finds the perfect commodity to trade for tea, Patna Opium from India. This ultimately leads to conflict culminating in the Opium Wars. Why this war is misnamed is also explained. This was the age of the China Clipper ships and imperialism at its worst. New black teas are also discussed, including Lapsang Souchong and the one black tea that local Chinese didn't turn their nose up at: Keemun 祁门茶. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The tea trade transforms into an entire industry and becomes the most important traded commodity of the British East India Company. Twining's emerges onto the scene along with coffeehouse culture where tea was also to be had. Over in the American colonies, the Yanks embrace tea as much as the Brits. Milk and sugar with tea become all the rage. And when the Her Majesty's government starts hitting up the American colonists with the Indemnity Acts of 1767, the Townshend Acts in 1770, and finally, the Tea Act of 1773, it leads to the Bostin Tea Party and an eventual "parting of ways" between the colonists and their British masters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As tea did everywhere it was introduced to, Europeans were no less enthusiastic than anyone else. It started off with the royals and aristocrats. But once prices came down and the haves and have-nots both got to enjoy it, the demand will become insatiable. The Russian tea caravans are also explored in this episode. Though their tea culture was different from the ways of the Europeans, Russian people loved their tea no less. During the Qing Dynasty, tea just kept getting better. We look at the tea-loving Qianlong Emperor and his contributions to tea culture. We close the episode with the story of John Dodd and Li Chunsheng, the fathers of Taiwan's tea industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During the late 16th century, the Jesuit Fathers become the first Europeans to drink tea. Soon afterward the Portuguese and Dutch traders start poking their noses around China and Japan. They too learn of this amazing beverage and see excellent prospects in their home markets. By the early 17th century The Dutch and British East India Companies are engaging in tea commerce. Though the Chinese at first wouldn't be caught dead drinking black tea, this too is discovered by the European traders and the rest is history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More Ming Dynasty tea history this time. Innovations from China's tea artisans further improved the taste and experience of tea. The famous "zisha" 紫砂 clay teapots and tea ware from Yixing 宜兴 are introduced as well as their role in the Gongfu Tea Ceremony. As the second half of the Ming Dynasty starts to wind down in the late 16th-early 17th century, the Europeans will soon be knocking on China's door. They too will discover the goodness and greatness of tea with historic consequences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices