1. Tea’s Journey from China to the World

• Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD): Tea bricks (压缩茶) became currency for trading with Central Asian nomads.

• Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD): Tea was traded for Central Asian horses, crucial for China’s military.

• Ming & Qing Dynasties: European traders (like the Dutch and British) demanded black tea, leading to the rise of Keemun and Lapsang Souchong.

Did you know? The “Tea-Horse Road” (茶马古道) was a Silk Road branch where tea was exchanged for Tibetan horses.

2. The British Tea Obsession & the Opium Wars

• By the 1700s, Britain was addicted to Chinese tea—but had little to trade except silver.

• The East India Company smuggled opium into China to balance trade, sparking the Opium Wars (1839–1862).

• After losing the wars, China was forced to export tea seeds, leading to plantations in India (Assam) and Sri Lanka (Ceylon).

Explore authentic Chinese teas like those traded on the Silk Road at TeaTeaPot’s historic collection.

3. The Legacy of Silk Road Tea Today

• Russian Caravan Tea: A smoky blend mimicking teas transported by camel caravans.

• Modern Tea Diplomacy: China’s “Belt and Road” initiative revives ancient tea trade routes.

Taste a piece of history with TeaTeaPot’s Silk Road-inspired teas—direct from China’s oldest growing regions.