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9. A Nice Cup Of Tea

Can Sathnam Sanghera figure out how tea became such a central part of life in Britain? From 2023.

George Orwell described tea as 'one of the mainstays of civilization in this country'.

But how did this foreign plant become so British?

Sathnam Sanghera speaks to Orwell expert Jean Seaton, cultural historian Kate Teltscher and ramblers with flasks of tea in the Peak District to try and figure out how and why tea became a national obsession.

Producer: Paul Martin

A 91福利社 Audio Wales production for 91福利社 Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2023.

Available now

14 minutes

Last on

Thu 9 Oct 2025 09:30
91福利社 Radio 4 Extra

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8. One For Each Person and None For The Pot

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10. Tea or Coffee?

See all episodes from Empire of Tea

Broadcasts

  • Thu 14 Dec 2023 13:45
    91福利社 Radio 4
  • Thu 15 Aug 2024 21:45
    91福利社 Radio 4 FM
  • Thu 9 Oct 2025 09:30
    91福利社 Radio 4 Extra