For All the Tea in China：Espionage, Empire, and the Secret Formula for the World's Favourite Drink

RobertFortunewasaScottishgardener,botanist,planthunter-andindustrialspy.In1848,theEastIndiaCompanyengagedhimtomakeaclandestinetripintotheinteriorofChina-territoryforbiddentoforeigners-tostealthecloselyguardedsecretsoftea.Forcenturies,Chinahadbeentheworld'ssoleteamanufacturer.BritainpurchasedthisfuelforitsEmpirebytradingopiumtotheChinese-apoisonousrelationshipBritainfoughttwodestructivewarstosustain.TheEastIndiaCompanyhadprofitedlavishlyasthemiddleman,butnowitwassinking,havinglostitsmonopolytotradetea.Itssalvation,itthought,wastoestablishitsownplantationsintheHimalayasofBritishIndia.Therewerejusttwoproblems:Indiahadnoteaplantsworthgrowing,andthecompanywouldn'thaveknownwhattodowiththemifithad.HenceRobertFortune'sdaringtrip.TheChineseinteriorwasoff-limitsandvirtuallyunknowntotheWest,butthat'swherethefinestteawasgrown-therichestoolongs,soochongsandpekoes.AndtheEmperoraimedtokeepitthatway.