Ep. 14 | Tea and Opium

Midway through the Qing Dynasty trouble is brewing along with the tens of millions of pounds of tea being imported into 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 to: Keemun.

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Terms in Episode

Pinyin/Term	Chinese	English/Meaning
Qiánlóng Emperor	乾隆帝	Qing emperor who reigned 1736-1795
Jiāqìng Emperor	嘉庆帝	Qing emperor who reigned 1796-1820
Kāngxī Emperor	康熙帝	Qing emperor who reigned 1662-1722
Hoppo	粤海关部	the Qing dynasty official at Canton given responsibility by the emperor for controlling shipping, collecting tariffs, and maintaining order among traders in and around the Pearl River Delta from 1685 to 1904.
CoHong	公行	a guild of Chinese merchants or hongs, operated the import-export monopoly in Canton (present-day Guangzhou) during the Qing dynasty
Lín Zéxú	林则徐	a.k.a. "Commissioner Lin", lived 1785-1850, Qing official whose anti-opium activities led to the Forst Opium War 1840-1842
Bùpíngděng tiáoyuē	不平等条约	Unequal Treaties
Fújiàn	福建	Coastal province in southern China
Dàoguāng Emperor	道光帝	Qing emperor who reigned 1821-1850
Gōngfu	功夫	Means "effort". Therefore Gongfu Tea would be tea prepared using "extra effort"
Lìshān Xiǎozhǒng	立山小种	Lapsang souchong tea
Zhèngshān Xiǎozhǒng	正山小种	Another name for Lapsang Souchong Tea
Wǔyí Mountain	武夷山	Mountain chain in northern Fujian famous for its scenic beauty, Buddhist temples and tea gardens (and famous teas)
Xūnchá	熏茶	Smoked tea (tea with a smokey flavor
Xūn	熏	to smoke (in cooking)
Qímén Chá	祁门茶	Keemun Tea
Qímén	祁門	Keemun, a city in Anhui province
Huáng shān	黄山	Sacred mountain located in Anhui
Guāngxù Emperor	光绪帝	Qing emperor who reigned 1875-1908
Anhui	安徽	Province in Central China west of Zhejiang
Keemun Háo Yá	祁門豪芽	A type of Keemun tea that is made from a ‘fine pluck’ which means that the pluck is done early in the season from just-emerging buds.
Keemun Máoféng	祁门毛峰	Keemun tea produced from the two top leaves and the tea bud
Keemun Congou	祁门工夫	Keemun tea produced from one leaf and the tea bud
tú	荼	A Chinese character used for the word tea prior to the Tang Dynasty.
kǔcài	苦菜	a bitter vegetable
Hàn	汉朝	Chinese imperial dynasty that lasted 206 BCE - 220 CE
Suí	隋朝	Chinese imperial dynasty that lasted 581-617
Táng	唐朝	Chinese imperial dynasty that lasted 618-907
Sòng	宋朝	Chinese imperial dynasty that lasted 960-1279
Míng	明朝	Chinese imperial dynasty that lasted 1368-1644
Chá	茶	Tea

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Resources

Books

Blogs

https://teajourney.pub/

https://www.teaweekly.com/

https://teabizblog.wpcomstaging.com/

https://theteacupoflife.com/

https://www.teaformeplease.com/

https://teainspoons.com/

https://www.worldteanews.com/

https://worldteaacademy.com/

http://babelcarp.org/babelcarp/

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