lec35w

Lecture 35 Horticulture, Politics, and World Affairs:Tea and Colonialism: 

Lecture 35 Horticulture, Politics, and World Affairs: Tea and Colonialism Tea: Camellia (syn. Thea) sinensis, Theaceae One of the most inexpensive beverages Consumed as an infusion Arabs drink tea with mint English consume it with milk Ice tea popular in the US South Stimulating due to the alkaloid theobromine (very similar but less physiological reactive than caffeine from coffee)

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Evergreen or semi-evergreen tree, 15m tall Adapted between 13˚- 30˚N & S, subtropics and mountainous areas of tropics, Will withstand frost when dormant Commercial production on pruned hedges; bud and leaf sequentially harvested

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Tea plant showing flowers and fruits

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Tea on the road to Bandung

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Tea estate, road to Bandung

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Tea worker at break, Java

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Tea estate, Ceylon, 1968

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Tea plucker, Ceylon, 1968

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Tea plucker, Ceylon, 1968

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Tupi tea company, 1965

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Tea fields

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Types of Tea Chinese (var sinensis): tolerant to cold Assam (var assamica): fast growing tall trees Require high temperatures Djarling: Hybrids between the above (from Djarling, India)

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Processing Withering and drying Rolling and sorting Fermentation Drying, sorting, grading, and packing Black: Fermented Green: Unfermented Oolong: Partially fermented

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Tea History Long Grown in China Tea ceremony important in Japan Brought to Europe in 16th century Reached Eastern Europe after 1650 (after coffee well established) Became general in Europe in 18th century Replace coffee in Britain who spread the habit to Empire

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Tea, Camellia sinensis: Shoot with flowers and fruits (top) Flower in longitudinal section (bottom) Fruits (middle)

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Tea and Politics: England & American Colonies Boston Tea Party an incident precipitating American War of Independence Rebellious colonists in Indian disguise destroy shipment of tea protesting tax May have been responsible for reducing tea consumption in US US since committed to coffee; now soft drinks

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England and China Increasing usage in England based on importations of tea from China British East India Company granted monopoly to control the trade in tea between England and China Great publicity followed first shipments of tea by sailing ships Trade favored China who demanded payment in gold

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England sought to leverage position in India by trading opium grown in India English considered opium a minor vice perhaps similar to our feeling concerning alcohol and tobacco The opium habit had entered China from India but the Chinese grew concerned (similar to our concern over South American cocaine and Afghanistan heroin) Emperor found the habit reprehensible and prohibited importation in 1729 and 1800 and the habit was in decline However, China had not the power to prevent importation by British

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They insisted British traders put up bond to ensure compliance with prohibition on opium imports, and destroy stocks English found these measures arbitrary, dictatorial, and unacceptable!! Armed conflict began from 1839 to 1844, known as the Opium Wars China lost and ceded Hong Kong to British control The Opium wars strengthened English claims on China followed by other western countries Led to other revolts such as the Boxer Rebellion The story of tea is not dissimilar to the story of oil in the 20th century