A History of the World in 100 Objects

Early Victorian tea set

Oct 12, 2010

Exploring the history of tea consumption in Victorian Britain, the evolution of an early Victorian tea set, the rise of tea drinking in Britain from luxury to staple, and the dark history of the British tea trade with China and impacts on society

14:14

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Quick takeaways

Tea's symbolization of British identity and imperial history

Promotion of tea as a sober alternative to alcohol for social control in Victorian Britain

Deep dives

The Significance of Tea in British Culture

Tea, despite its origins in faraway lands like India and China, has become an iconic part of British identity. The popularity of tea in Victorian Britain symbolizes the country's imperial history, global trade networks, and the transformation of domestic consumption. The shift to mass production and mass consumption in the 19th century made tea more accessible across different social classes, reshaping British drinking habits and societal norms.

Intro

3min

The History and Evolution of an Early Victorian Tea Set

3min

The Rise of Tea Drinking in Britain from the 18th to the 19th Century

2min

The British Transition from Beer to Tea and the Dark History of the Tea Trade

6min

This week Neil MacGregor's history of the world is looking at how the global economy became cemented in the 19th century, a time of mass production and mass consumption. He tells the story of how tea became the defining national drink in Britain - why have we become so closely associated with a brew made from leaves mainly grown in China and India? The object he has chosen to reflect this curious history is an early Victorian tea set, made in Staffordshire and perfectly familiar to all of us. The historian Celina Fox and Monique Simmonds from Kew gardens find new meaning in the ubiquitous cuppa.

Producer: Anthony Denselow

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A History of the World in 100 Objects

Early Victorian tea set

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Significance of Tea in British Culture

Tea's Role in Social Control and Temperance Movements

Impact of Tea Trade on Global Economies and Societies

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts