For All the Tea in China Audiobook By Sarah Rose cover art

For All the Tea in China

How England Stole the World's Favorite Drink and Changed History

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For All the Tea in China

By: Sarah Rose
Narrated by: Sarah Rose
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In 1848, the British East India Company, having lost its monopoly on the tea trade, engaged Robert Fortune, a Scottish gardener, botanist, and plant hunter, to make a clandestine trip into the interior of China - territory forbidden to foreigners - to steal the closely guarded secrets of tea horticulture and manufacturing. For All the Tea in China is the remarkable account of Fortune's journeys into China - a thrilling narrative that combines history, geography, botany, natural science, and old-fashioned adventure.

Disguised in Mandarin robes, Fortune ventured deep into the country, confronting pirates, hostile climate, and his own untrustworthy men as he made his way to the epicenter of tea production, the remote Wu Yi Shan hills. One of the most daring acts of corporate espionage in history, Fortune's pursuit of China's ancient secret makes for a classic 19th-century adventure tale, one in which the fate of empires hinges on the feats of one extraordinary man.

©2010 Sarah Rose (P)2010 Tantor 19th Century Asia Biological Sciences Botany & Plants China Europe Food & Wine Great Britain International Relations Modern Politics & Government Science Trades & Tariffs World England Imperialism Africa

Critic reviews

“A delicious brew of information on the history of tea cultivation and consumption in the Western world.... A remarkably riveting tale.” ( Booklist)

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The author provides a fine window into a wonderful time in horticultural exploration at the same time that she provides cultural and political contexts. I found the book fascinating. Unfortunately, I thought the author should not have narrated the book. While her narration is professional, I do not feel it suited the story.

classic time in horticultural exploration

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Very interesting. Really dragged after the adventuring botanist made it out of China, but enlightening just the same.

informative

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If you like spy novels, or industrial espionage, or discussion of important historical turning points you will love this book. Sarah Rose blended these aspects of her story perfectly and I could not stop listening. The story was so good I have been recommending it to my friends who usually stick with fiction because they have never been able to get into history with its often dry recitation of dates and un-relatable characters. I've gotten two thank you's from friends who decided to give it a try and were just as amazed as I was. This type of book is rare and I hope like heck I can find others like it.

History at its most intriguing and unbelieveable

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What did you love best about For All the Tea in China?

This book is an interesting history of tea, sailing, exploring, terraria, the Orient, England, India, politics, gardening, and the beginnings of international commerce. I enjoyed reading it. The author as narrator perhaps wasn't the best, but I didn't find her tone distracting.

Interesting intersection of topics

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I love micro histories about odd bits of the world. This one is a delight. It's full of a great deal of information about tea, British imperialism, China, India and that point in time. All in all, it's an interestingly drawn picture.
The author is not a great narrator, but she really didn't get in the way of her story. I found it a treat.

Delightful!

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Very interesting if you like the topic! There are a few points where she runs off topic but otherwise I really enjoyed it!

Was what I was looking for!

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it's an engaging story, but told in a grossly racist way. There's clear minimization of the effects of British imperialism on it's victims, and a basic approval of how that evil shaped the modern world. she's a good narrator, and it's a good story, but absolutely culturally tone deaf.

Grossly Racist

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everything you wanted to know about history and tea ...the history will indeed surprise you

everything you wanted to know bout history and tea

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I loved this book. As a tea drinker and someone who loves history books, I found it absolutely fascinating. It is thoroughly researched and very well written.

However, as many other people have noted, the author does a very poor job of narration. I would certainly read other books by her, but I would not listen if she reads them.

Fascinating history but hard on the ears

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Sorry, but I agree with many of the other reviewers on this one. And this is the first review I've written for Audible, even though I've been a happy customer for nearly 7 years!

This author's narration style really annoyed me. Her chirpy intonation made me feel about 5 years old. Additionally, there were several words she did not know how to pronounce, and this grated on my ears. I do give her credit for attempting many Chinese names and phrases, but I have no way of knowing if she was producing them correctly or not.

I love tea and the history and chemistry and artistry of tea, so I am sticking with this book for now. I'm about 2/3 of the way through, but it has taken me several weeks to get this far. I keep coming back to it, determined to try and finish, and then I can't take it any more and I listen to music or another book for a while. I love the depth of history and research and details, but in this audio version, the narration overshadows all.

Was there no one else who could perform this book with distinction?

One author who writes well but narrates terribly!

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