Tea cultivation by English East India Company

How was the East India Company controlled? By the government. What was its object? To collect taxes. How was this object attained? By means of a large standing army. What were its employees? Soldiers, mostly, the rest, civil servants. What did it export from England? Courage. And what from England? Courage. And what did it import? Tea! (Brian Gardener) English East India Company was established in 1600 under the supervision of England. It was officially a corporate company, however, they received various privileges from the government and performed monopoly trade. English East India Company exported wool, cotton, iron, zink from England, and imported paper, spices, silk and porcelain. 1669 was the first year they dealt tea trading. Total of 222 pounds tea was shipped from Amoi port of Fujian province in China to England. Due to the strong demands in England, the amount of tea importing went skyrocket. After 50 years (1721-1701), 8800000 pounds of teas were imported to cover the large consumption. Between 1700 to 1800, most of the tea was exported from China. In 1830, tea cultivation was started in India by English East India Company. In 1835, the governor of Indiaベンチク, let younger brother of the founder (Bruce brothers) of Assam to be in charge of tea cultivation in Assam, and Assam Tea Company was established. They invited Chinese consultants for the tea cultivation, the plantation style of tea cultivation was started. The jungles in Assam changed its face to the home of large tea plantation, and tea plantation in India expanded to Bihar and Bengal. For the convenience of tea transportation, Darjeeling railroad started the service, and tea was transported to Calcutta port. Tea was then shipped from Calcutta to London, and exported to the countries in Europe and America. In 1857, incidence of Mutiny of Sepoy had occurred and the movement of urging the free trade became larger. Same year, English East India Company announced for closing their business.

(Takahiro Moritake)