Putting the Tea in Britain

This epic history tells the story of the intrepid Scots who pioneered the global tea trade in Darjeeling, Assam, Ceylon, and elsewhere.

For centuries, a “nice cup of tea” has been Britain's quintessential source of comfort in a crisis. But tea itself has a surprisingly dramatic, even violent, history—one that is inextricably linked to the story of Scotland.

Scots were overwhelmingly responsible for the introduction and development of the UK’s national drink, and were the foremost pioneers of tea as an international commodity. This book reveals how a thriving global trade began with the work of Scottish adventurers and entrepreneurs.

Many of these men jeopardized their lives and made immense fortunes. Yet their business empires exacted a terrible price in the form of racism, exploitation, and environmental devastation. Putting the Tea in Britain tells the complete story, following the evolution of tea from its beginnings in Darjeeling, Assam, Ceylon, and Africa to the recent development of tea plantations in Scotland itself.