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/TermChineseEnglish/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
Xūnto 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
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
CháTea

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Ep. 15 | A Fortune for the East India Company

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Ep. 13 | Don’t Tax My Tea