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China Loves British Tea

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HARROGATE, England (Achieve3000, April 26, 2017). Ji Mengyu
sinks into a soft chair with her cup of tea. In the background,
teaspoons tinkle. People chat quietly. Ji is sitting in a tea salon that
looks like something straight out of England. But it's in Beijing,
China. Ji is one of many Chinese people who are looking past their
country's ancient tea traditions in favor of imported British tea
blends.
The trend is fairly recent. Tea plants were first grown in China. And
China was the first part of the world to develop a tea-drinking
tradition. Today, tea is also a tradition in Britain. But the British didn't
start drinking tea until the 17th century. For more than 300 years, Photo credit and all related images:
countries in Asia and Africa have been supplying Britain with dried AP Photo
leaves. The British create their own tea blends out of those leaves. This man works for Taylors of
Now, many people in China have developed an appetite for British Harrogate, a tea company. He is
blends. packing boxes of tea.
Tea blends from British companies are occupying more space in
Chinese supermarkets and restaurants. Tea houses serving British afternoon tea have also sprouted up in China's
bigger cities. In 2012, Annvita English Tea Company managed ten British-style tea houses around China. As of
2017, there were 10 times that number. And more were planned.

British tea exports to China are doing well, too. Some of these deliveries come from Taylors of Harrogate.
"China produces nearly one half of the world's tea," says Matthew Davies. Davies was once the Head of
International Sales at Taylors of Harrogate. "You [might] think that there is a limited opportunity for Taylors of
Harrogate."

But in fact, Taylors of Harrogate has had great success in China. The company has been selling tea there for
more than 10 years. Since 2014, sales have more than doubled every year.

In China, the demand for British tea has been fueled by popularity of British culture. The British royal family is
always in the news. Classical British authors, such as Jane Austen, are very popular. And many TV shows show
British culture.

"These [last] few years, because of the popular British TV dramas, Chinese [buyers] are more exposed to British
brands and the lifestyle," says Hope Lee. Lee is an expert on the tea industry.

Ji agrees with Lee. She says TV shows like Downton Abbey and Game of Thrones drew her to British tea.
"I think British people's traditional customs and culture have a kind of classical style," Ji said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.