On 10 January 1839, a historic milestone was achieved in the global tea trade as the first shipment of tea cultivated from the indigenous plants of Assam, India, arrived in the United Kingdom.
This event marked the beginning of a new era in the tea industry, as it introduced the British populace to a distinct variety that would soon become a staple in their daily lives.
The success of Assam tea challenged the Chinese monopoly over tea production, opening avenues for large-scale cultivation in India and eventually transforming the region into one of the world's leading tea producers.
The rich, robust flavour of Assam tea quickly gained popularity, forever altering the dynamics of the global tea market.
