The Greatest Tea Heist Never Before Filmed

Ancient Tea Mystery Revealed

In 1848, a mysterious botanist and Scotsman disembarked from the steamship Braganza as ocean mist rolled across the Hong Kong harbor. His name is Robert Fortune. His mission? To infiltrate beyond China’s walled cities into the forbidden tea regions and execute the most audacious tea heist in history.

This extraordinary tea spy mission—captured in our documentary—unveils the dramatic journey that would forever change the global tea trade.

Our documentary research reveals that Britain’s insatiable tea craving was depleting the Empire’s resources, with tea imports from China soaring to a staggering 42 million kilograms, or 93 million pounds, by 1855.

The British tea drinking was draining the Queen’s coffer.

A change had to be made.

The stakes were colossal.

The Empire’s Tea Addiction

“To be English was to drink tea, morning, noon, and night,” – remarks Christy Hui, director of TEA: The Drink that Changed The World, “Tea had become more than just a beverage – it was the British Empire’s lifeblood.”

After centuries of tea drinking, the Queen’s silver supply was running dry.

But a problem loomed. China held all the cards, accepting only silver for her prized commodity.

To keep Chinese tea flowing in the mighty kingdom, England needed to grow her own Empire Tea.

Empire Tea Mission

Enter the Tea Spy. The British East India Company hired 33-year-old Scottish botanist Robert Fortune, quadrupling his salary to 500 pounds annually.

His mission was clear – infiltrate China’s forbidden tea regions and steal the secrets of tea production, from planting to curing and manufacturing.

“Industrial espionage was perilous,” Christy added. The Company sweetened the deal – anything Fortune brought back besides tea would be his to profit from.

They knew what they were asking was nearly impossible, but the allure of the prize was too great to resist.

Into the Forbidden Tea Realm

Fortune’s own writings, featured in our documentary, paint a vivid picture of his audacious mission:

“I did not like the idea of returning to Europe without being perfectly certain that I had introduced the tea plant from China’s best Black Tea districts.“

Fortune took on an elaborate disguise to penetrate deep into the forbidden tea mountains of Wuyi Shan, the birthplace of Black tea (Lapsang Souchong) and Oolong.

“Posing as a high-level official from Tartary outside the Great Wall, the acting Chinaman spoke pidgin Chinese and hired local servants, who became his mouth and ears,” notes Christy, the filmmaker.

Eye on the Prize: Wuyi’s Tea Secrets

Fortune’s ultimate target—the legendary Wuyi Mountains. Through our exclusive footage in this still-restricted region—the epicenter of the world’s finest black tea production—you get to experience Fortune’s bewitchment by the landscape:

“The strange rocks, as they reared their rugged forms high above the temples, had a curious and unnatural presence… Was it a reality or a dream?”

Tea Heist’s Success

Fortune’s mission exceeded all expectations. But how did he keep the young tea plants and seeds alive during the long and treacherous 90-day-long ocean voyage? This ancient mystery is revealed in vivid 4K footage.

Watch now on Amazon: bit.ly/teadoc  

A World Forever Changed

Robert Fortune’s most audacious tea heist forever transformed the global tea trade.

Uprooting tea from China to India.

By the late 1930s, India had become the world’s leading tea exporter, producing an astonishing average of 332 million pounds annually.

Tea cultivation spread throughout the British Empire to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and beyond, forever altering the global tea trade.

As Mr. Jiang, the 24th-generation descendant of Black tea’s inventor, tells us in an exclusive interview:

“Lapsang Souchong gave birth to other Black Teas in the world, including Assam and Darjeeling in India.”

The Legacy Lives On

Today, as you sip your morning Darjeeling or Assam, you taste the fruits of Fortune’s most elaborate tea heist in history.

Our documentary takes you into the very mountains Fortune infiltrated, revealing for the first time the full scope of this audacious tale through unprecedented access and exclusive interviews.

Want to discover more secrets from tea’s fascinating history?

Watch our tea documentary – “TEA: The Drink That Changed the World,” – to witness how this humble beverage shaped empires, sparked revolutions, and forever implanted into our hearts.

Want more fascinating tea stories poured straight into your inbox? Join our Tea Society newsletter for captivating insights from rich tea history to creamy culture!

Christy Hui Author, Director & Producer

Brimming with ZEST. Consummate cultivator of ideas from sparks to fruit-bearing adventures. I love pursuing worthy causes elevating the human spirit. Care to join me for tea?