Chris Nierstrasz (University of Warwick) A strange thirst for tea: East India Companies, private trade, smuggling and the popularisation of the consumption of tea in Western Europe (1700-1790) Chris Nierstrasz (University of Warwick)

Different views on ‘popularization of consumption of tea’ Theoretically, popularisation of consumption is seen as impossible in the time period under study. More specific studies on tea have found indications that tea reached poorest people in both the Dutch Republic and England during the eighteenth century

Different views on ‘popularization of consumption of tea’ Take a different approach: Compare Dutch and English East India Companies imports of tea. What quantities and qualities of tea did they bring to Europe? What role did different companies, private traders and smugglers play in the trade of tea?

A Comparison English East India Company (EIC) and the Dutch East India Company (VOC) Two strategies: EIC: Import of tea heavily taxed and import of other tea banned, so imported tea meant for home-market and colonies VOC: Import and re-export of tea hardly taxed and import of other tea allowed, so tea was meant for the home-market and for smuggling into England

Sales prices and Purchase prices, VOC and EIC (Pound Sterling/Pound Weight)

Import of tea, VOC and EIC, 1720-1780 (Kilogram)

Purchase price EIC, Tea, 1715-1789 (Pound sterling/Pound Weight)

Purchase price EIC, Green tea, 1715-1789 (Pound Sterling/Pound Weight)

Purchase price EIC, Black tea, 1715-1789 (Pound sterling/English Pound Weight)

Purchase price EIC, Tea, 1715-1789 (Pound sterling/Pound Weight)

Sales price VOC, Singlo and Bohea, tea, 1710-1760 (Guilders/Dutch Pound Weight)

Mix of Tea What do we expect: Smugglers logically can aim for a larger segment of the market as their prices are lower, whilst the EIC will have to aim for ‘luxury’ markets. Is this visible in the returns of both companies?

Percentage of different varieties of tea in the cargo of the EIC, Percentage of total weight, (1715-1789)

Percentage of different varieties of tea in the cargo of the VOC, Percentage of total weight, (1710-1794)

Mix of Tea After the Commutation Act: The cheap varieties of tea (Bohea and Singlo) disappear from the mix, so even poor consumers prefer higher quality tea. The smugglers not only offered lower prices, they also offered more taste Under pressure of competition, the VOC mix evolved more gradually, predating changes in the mix of the EIC 20 years

Private trade Why did the VOC lower the relative amount of Bohea it imported in the period 1735-1755?

Private trade VOC allowed private shipments of tea from Batavia against payment of a fee (1743-1796) VOC specialises in the higher quality varieties from Canton, while the recognition traders buy cheap Bohea in Batavia

Import of tea, VOC official trade and VOC on recognition, Dutch lbs (1740-1760)

EIC vs VOC and its Recognition trade

Private trade Private trade only visible with the payment of a recognition fee and indications it was even more extensive before Private trade in tea even at the origins of the tea trade Private trade was always tolerated by the VOC authorities

Conclusion New aproach offers new insights into the developments on the European market for tea Continental Companies, private traders and smugglers popularised the consumption of tea in Western Europe and the EIC only followed in their footsteps The changes in the importation of tea in the late eighteenth century, show how the tea market matured from cheap tea to more flavoured tea