Ten Thousand Miles Without a Cloud was the title of a book which recounts the steps of a woman retracing the footsteps of Huang Shan, the monk who took Buddhism from India to China during the 8th century. Robert Fortune should be termed a missionary instead of being called a “tea thief,” as various documents and references label him – including few films and novels.
Tea was first “stolen” by rats who transported the protein-rich seed – as their food to various destinations – out of its original habitat around present day Assam, Shan, and Yunnan strip in India, Myanmar, and China. These stowaways brought the seed to 30 degree latitude which is near Hangzhou – the seat of most famous Long Jing, or Dragon Well, tea.
Later tea was “stolen” by monks going to Japan and Korea. Then by the Dutch to Taiwan and Indonesia, and by the British to India, Sri Lanka, and Africa, in that order. Australians and Papua New Guinea planted tea because they had surplus lands. Now Americans are planting tea because they want to be “liberated:” England is planting because it is “their” tea; Ukraine and Iran always grown tea; and Latin America has it growing in Argentina.
Now where else: Moon? Sun, or Mars?
Hawaii is growing in a big big way; Tea Bloggers’ Associations are mulling over the dilemma of finding more ways of attracting people to tea for cultivation and drinking. Tealet principals are leaders in this field while Bitcoins are bouncing a rocky road to replace tea money, as in the days of Tea Horse Roads.
Tea from the land of Buddha – with no thieves….
Main Image provided by contributor. IMAGE 1:
“Ten Thousand Miles Without a Cloud” is a nice title for a book. Huang Shan is the famous Chinese Buddhist monk Xuanzang’s other name? It’s also a mountain.
Interesting last line, Rajiv. Elyse Petersen has a very provocative post which will publish tomorrow regarding the deliberate obfuscation in the tea industry. Don’t miss it!
thanks Rafe..Elyse brought the idea out and build upon that..yesterday i was with Ian Chun of unome and we discussed Tealet model in great lengths..and we wish her all the success in her efforts..
How true indeed! I prefer to think of tea as being “gifted” to various cultures around the world. This simple leaf has much to offer the human race. It is a blessing to have it introduced into our modern culture in all parts of the globe.
tea is indeed a gifted leaf to us by nature and who so ever got it earlier is living healthier and on the other end sugar doused our brain and the central nervous system – and tea is our liberator for this poison – and the early european travellers even risked their own lives to bring this leaf out of these jealously guarded territories to benefit the outside world..a commendable work and we should be thankful to them..wars are always fought to protect the trade..and this was one such war too..