These questions and numerous others are answered authoritatively in this new book by david ferguson, and they all connect to the activities of the plant hunter, robert fortune 18121880. In 1848, the east india company engaged him to make a clandestine trip into the interior of china territory forbidden to foreigners to steal the closely guarded secrets of tea. The story of robert fortune in tea and books my tea diary. How apt that this book examines not just the tea trade but much wider horticultural, business and religious links between that country and the western world, and that it should be published now. Sarah rose is the author of for all the tea in china. A journey to the tea countries of china including sunglo. He learns that this particular tea is produced from leaves that grow on three different bushes. Robert fortunes dangerous mission to obtain tea from the. How were the tea leaves prepared so that they yielded such a high quality beverage. He was responsible for the introduction of over 120 species of plants to western gardens. Robert fortune has 48 books on goodreads with 295 ratings. Who was responsible for development of the british indian tea plantations. How england stole the worlds favorite drink and changed history her book tells the story of robert fortune, a 19th century british botanist who traveled to china for the british east india company. His second journey to china was for the east india company to obtain the finest tea plants to establish plantations in india.
The book focuses on one central character, robert fortune, who was a scientist sent by the british government to literally steal the secret of tea production from china, plant the chinese tea in. A journey to the tea countries of china including sunglo and. Oct 04, 2018 the short version of the story goes something like this. For all the tea in china is an adventure story in the guise of a history book, and is a delight to read. The story of tea is colored with many amazing personalities who were both daring and courageous. In 1848, the british east india company sent robert fortune on a trip to chinas interior, an area forbidden to foreigners. Robert fortune 1812 1880 was a scottish botanist, plant hunter and traveller, best known for disguising himself as chinese royalty, traveling the tea country, and stealing tea plants and tea processing experts from china on behalf of the british east india company. The salt in the mid1800s, britain was a global superpower with a big weakness for tea, all of which came from china. Robert fortune was born in berwickshire, scotland on september 16, 1812.
When britain sent an undercover botanist inside chinas tea. A journey to the tea countries of china including sunglo and the bohea hills. For five thousand years, it was jealously guarding the manufacturing secrets and refused to share them. An illustration from a book published in 1851 depicts the cultivation of. A cultural history and drinking guide by mary lou and robert heiss describes yunnan black teas as lush, thirstquenching treats. More than a history of the british east india companys dominance in the tea trade, this book is really about how one man, robert fortune, managed to steal tea plants, seeds, secrets, and expert growers and transplant all of them to india so that britain could wriggle out of trading with china for tea. This latterday james bond was called robert fortune a botanist. If ever there was a book to read in the company of a nice cuppa, this is it. A journey to the tea countries of china, including sunglo and the bohea hills a journey to the tea countries of china, including sunglo and the bohea hills by robert fortune. He was employed by the edinburgh botanical garden and afterward in the royal horticultural societys garden at chiswick. Fortunes mission was to steal the secrets of tea horticulture and manufacturing. Robert fortune was a scientist, a botanist and, in some ways, an industrial spy. For five thousand years, it was jealously guarding the.
Robert fortunes theft helped spread tea to a wider world at lower prices. Robert fortune spent several years in china gathering and shipping more than 20,000 tea plants and seedlings to india, thus establishing the indian and sri lankan tea industries. The story of robert fortune in tea and books my life. This same book describes spring darjeeling teas as being characterized by fresh exuberance while later flushes of darjeeling are described as rich and smooth.
Its for all the tea in china by sarah rose, a fascinating tale of how, on behalf of the east india company, robert fortune stole tea plants and tea technologies against imperial edicts. Upon the termination of the first opium war in 1842, he was sent out by the society to collect plants in china. Fortune wrote of these adventures in his 1852 book a journey to the tea. China vintage hour cvhs1e01robert fortunes wanderings in. Mar 01, 2009 for all the tea in china is an adventure story in the guise of a history book, and is a delight to read. Robert fortune 16 september 1812 april 1880 was a scottish plant expert, plant hunter and traveller best known for introducing tea plants from china to india travels and introduction of plants to europe. Addressed to a western audience, it was originally written in english and is one of the great english tea classics. How a scottish botanist stole chinas tea and changed. Naming this blend after the scottish adventurer, botanist, and plant hunter is apt as the blend contains both chinese yunnan and indian darjeeling tea. Little is known of fortune s early years, and in his life he made no effort to share this information. Robert fortune 18121880 born in berwickshire, scotland, on the 16th of september, 1812, robert fortune was typical of many plant hunters in his day.
Following the man who stole tea from china reuters. His mission was to develop the first plantations in britains indian colonies. Two visits to the tea countries of china and the british. Fortune must come up with another idea, but fate is kind to him.
Scottish botanist robert fortune accepted a dangerous mission in 1848. Books by robert fortune author of three years wanderings. Robert fortune 16 september 1812 april 1880 was a scottish botanist, plant hunter and traveller, best known for introducing around 250 new ornamental plants, mainly from china, but also japan, into the gardens of britain, australia, and the usa. We drink the delicious results of robert fortunes adventures every day. The story of robert fortune in tea and books my life with tea. A dramatic historical narrative of the man who stole the secret of tea from china in 1848, the british east india company, having lost its monopoly on the tea trade, engaged robert fortune, a scottish gardener, botanist, and plant hunter, to make a clandestine trip into the interior of chinaterritory forbidden to foreignersto steal the closely guarded. Robert fortune was a scottish gardener, botanist, plant h. How a drink shaped an empire sarah roses for all the tea in china tells the story. Botanist robert fortune was commissioned by the east india trading company to infiltrate chinas tea industry and topple the countrys monopoly on the beverage. Robert fortune 1880, the author of several books on china, was. The story of robert fortune in tea and books today, i have been sipping upton tea imports black tea blend called robert fortune blend 41.
With an account of the agriculture of the chinese, new plants, etc by robert fortune, first published in 1847, is a rare manuscript, the original residing in one of the great libraries of the world. Second only to water, tea is the worlds most popular beverage. The man britain needed was robert fortune, rose writes. Far more than just a long history, the book speaks more than anything to the astonishing power of real world stories. The book is subtitled espionage, empire and the secret formula for the worlds favourite drink. Journey to the tea countries of china first edition robert. Robert fortune risked his life traveling through china in the 1840s. In his book he also described the art of dwarfing trees. Including a visit to the tea, silk, and cotton countries. In 1847, a little known scottish botanist called robert fortune published a book about his three years of exploration and plant hunting in the teagrowing provinces of china and it set in motion. Amid the destruction of the diplomatic relations between britain and china, scottish botanist robert fortune was thrust into the thick of it. It has been a commonly accepted theme that fortune was in some way a tea thief and a spy. Not only was fortunes purchase of tea plants reportedly forbidden by the. Botanist robert fortune traveled to china and stole trade secrets of the tea industry, discovering a fraud in the process.
Robert fortune the tea thief ronin films educational. He was employed in the royal botanic garden edinburgh, and later in the garden of horticultural society of london at chiswick. My object is to give a peep into the celestial empire, to show its strange hills and romantic valleys, its rivers and canals. Watch robert fortune the tea thief online vimeo on demand. Using much new material watt sets out to give a full account of the man, his explorations in 19th century china and the plants that he introduced into our gardens. It is part of her collection distinguished leaves which is being launched on september 23.
We have rarely met with any book of travels which so entirely won our confidence. In 1848 he penetrated parts of the chinese interior, which. In 1843, the scottish botanist sailed to china, funded by the royal horticultural society, to study the varieties of the drink grown there that had become hugely. Robert fortune 16 september 1812 april 1880 was a scottish botanist, plant hunter and. Robert fortune the tea thief ronin films educational dvd.
Robert fortune 16 september 1812 april 1880 was a scottish plant expert, plant hunter and traveller best known for introducing tea plants from china to india. Fortunately for us he wrote his travel notes in a book that is readily available online. I interviewed most of them for my book, titanic the canadian story. With map and illustrations ebook written by robert fortune. Aug 06, 2001 a journey to the tea countries of china fortune, robert on. He studied the whole process of tea making whilst based at a temple in the heart of the tea region, and discovered that black and green teas were made from the same plant. Mar 02, 2017 welcome to the inaugural episode of the china vintage hour. The tea thief 2001 in the middle of the xixth century, the occident developed a passion for tea. A journey to the tea countries of china fortune, robert on.
In the middle of the xixth century, the occident developed a passion for tea. Partly, it details chinese culture and tradition as well. The britannic empire, then at its peak, launched an extraordinary spying mission. In the 19th century, china held the monopoly on tea, which was dear and fashionable in the west, and the british empire exchanged poppies, produced in its indian colonies and transformed into opium, for chinese tea. This mission was given to a young and brilliant scottish botanist. The east india company therefore entrusted one man with finding the secrets of the precious beverage. The book of tea by okakura kakuzo 1906 is a long essay linking the role of chado teaism to the aesthetic and cultural aspects of japanese life. The fortune family descendants encyclopedia titanica.
Birth place village of edrom near duns in berwickshire, scotland. Robert fortunes adventures were covered previously in the china history podcasts 10part history of tea series. Two visits to the tea countries of china and the british tea plantations in the himalaya. A journey to the tea countries of china, including sunglo.
In 1847 he published a book which detailed chinese gardening, agriculture and the history of tea culture. Upon his return to london in may 1846, robert fortune published his journals in the book three years wanderings in the northern provinces of china. Jun 07, 2011 robert fortune was a scientist, a botanist and, in some ways, an industrial spy. The books describes robert fortune s travels to china in the 19th century to, well, steal tea from china. Pdf robert fortune download full pdf book download. Sarah rose has captured the thrill of discovery, the. Robert fortune is the subject of a poem fortune favours tea by britains tea poet elizabeth darcy jones. The life and exploits of robert fortune created a symbolic bridge between the worlds of china and india, and this unique tea blend does as well.
A dramatic historical narrative of the man who stole the secret of tea from china in 1848, the british east india company, having lost its monopoly on the tea trade, engaged robert fortune, a scottish gardener, botanist, and plant hunter, to make a clandestine trip into the interior of china territory forbidden to foreigners to steal the closely guarded secrets of tea horticulture and. Apr 01, 2010 robert fortune was a scottish gardener, botanist, plant hunter and industrial spy. If this is of help i ll dig through my files and get numbers for you tomorrow. Robert fortune simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Curiositystream is home to thousands of awardwinning documentaries. It follows the work of botanist robert fortune, who in the 1840s was tasked by the british east india company to travel illegally into the chinese hinterland and steal highquality tea plants and seeds, as well as the secrets to processing both green and black tea. It follows the work of botanist robert fortune, who in the 1840s was tasked by the british east india company to travel illegally into the chinese hinterland and steal highquality tea plants and seeds, as well as the secrets to processing. Tea was an important asset for chinese economy and it was protected by imperial laws that didnt allow foreigner to travel inside the country. All tea drinkers should read this book, which is the story of robert fortune. China dominated the tea trade until the east india company broke its monopoly, having sent scottish botanist robert fortune on a covert. Robert fortunes most popular book is three years wanderings in the northern provinces of chin. The adventures of robert fortune plus our full library of documentary features and series. Trouble is that the tea bushes are guarded day and night by buddhist monks. How england stole the worlds favorite drink and changed history, is like the very best cup of tea.
The great british tea heist history smithsonian magazine. Oct 10, 2018 scottish botanist robert fortune accepted a dangerous mission in 1848. Apr 14, 2002 there are fortune family descendants in nova scotia, newton brett and in toronto. It is part of her collection distinguished leaves which. Tea war, the adventures of robert fortune lucky you. Apr 10, 2009 this is a missed opportunity, because there is certainly an interesting story to be told about the book s protagonist, robert fortune. Three years wanderings in the northern provinces of china. But he is best known as the man who stole tea from deep within china and took it to india in the mid1800s.
In 1847, a little known scottish botanist called robert fortune published a book about his three years of exploration and plant hunting in the teagrowing provinces of. Mar 09, 2010 the great british tea heist botanist robert fortune traveled to china and stole trade secrets of the tea industry, discovering a fraud in the process. Robert fortune, as an agent of the east india company, shippedsmuggled tea plants, seeds, and eight chinese tea experts from chinas tea lands into india where they formed the foundation of what later became the indian tea industry. The only alternative possible was to produce its own tea. How scientist robert fortune fueled britains expansion by. Robert fortune a plant hunter in the orient by alistair watt. Robert fortune has 48 books on goodreads with 284 ratings. One such person was explorer robert fortune 181880. Robert fortune 16 september 1812 april 1880 was a scottish botanist, plant hunter and traveller, best known for stealing tea plants from china in the employment of the british east india company. This is a missed opportunity, because there is certainly an interesting story to be told about the book s protagonist, robert fortune. The incidents of his travels were related in a succession of books. He also played a role in the development of the tea industry in india in the 19th century. Cambridge core east asian history a journey to the tea countries of china by robert fortune. Two visits to the tea countries of china and the british tea plantations in the himalaya title.
Dec 11, 2019 author of three years wanderings in the northern provinces of china, a journey to the tea countries of china, two visits to the tea countries of china and the british tea plantations in the himalaya, a residence among the chinese, yedo and peking, two visits to the tea countries of china v2, three years wanderings in the northern provinces of china, a journey to the tea countries of china. Botanist robert fortune traveled to china and stole trade secrets of the tea industry, discovering a fraud in the process among botanist robert fortune s tasks in china was to learn the procedure. But he is best known as the man who stole tea from deep within china and took it. This book is a reproduction of the original book published in 1900 and may have some imperfections such as marks or handwritten notes. The man entrusted with the mission was robert fortune, a 36yearold scottish botanist and adventurer. Scottish botanist and traveller, best known for introducing tea plants from china to india. Robert fortune scottish botanist and traveler britannica. Botanist robert fortune stole the secret of tea making from the chinese he was already as acquainted as any westerner could be with the vast empire run from the forbidden city in. The british botanist who destroyed 19th century chinas. English heritage blue plaque outside robert fortunes home at 9 gilston road, chelsea. Robert fortune was a 19thcentury scottish botanist who helped the. Tea, a drink associated today with calm and wellbeing, has a turbulent history.
That sarah rose was able to write the story of robert fortune, a scottish. He democratized a luxury, and the world has been enjoying it ever since. As a child, fortune spent his days with his father on their modest family farm. The british government sought to change that, by mounting an extraordinary mission of industrial espionage.