For All the Tea in China

Discover the thrilling tale of Robert Fortune, a Scottish gardener and botanist turned industrial spy, in For All the Tea in China by Sarah Rose. Published in 2010, this captivating book unfolds the story of Fortune's daring 1848 expedition into the heart of China, a land shrouded in mystery and strict prohibitions against foreign intrusion. Tasked by the East India Company, Fortune's mission was to uncover the closely guarded secrets of tea production, a craft that had made China the world's exclusive supplier for centuries. With 288 pages of rich narrative, Rose intricately weaves together themes of adventure, espionage, and the complex dynamics of foreign economic relations, particularly between China and Great Britain. Join Fortune on his remarkable journey that changed the course of tea history forever.