Other occupations reading list

Tea planters

• Moxham, Roy

A brief history of tea. London: Robinson, 2009

Sandwiched between the author's short account of his own experiences as a tea plantation manager in Africa is the history of efforts made to satisfy the British desire for a cup of tea. This included tea smuggling and a link between tea and the opium trade. Unsurprisingly the main focus is on tea production in India making this readable book essential, if somewhat disquieting, reading for anyone with an ancestor connected with tea growing and trading in the region. The producers' strategy to increase tea drinking amongst locals in India, mention of tea canteens during WW2, as well as modern developments are covered. Previous editions were titled "Tea : addiction, exploitation and empire".