WI: Tea was cultivated in Europe?

[marcinL]

Getting it from China in exchange for something of value seemingly was not a problem for anybody but the Brits.

At the point British entered the scene, China traded only for silver

 

[Horus Lupercal]

It is very much possible to grow tea in georgian western regions as was Done in Russian empire and later the soviet union on larger scale

 

[Arkenfolm]

If tea had been introduced to India earlier (like by Buddhist monks, any time between the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century and the Ming treasure voyages in the early 15th century), I suspect it would've been easier for Europeans to have started growing it. Think of it, Portuguese ships reach India, and by the mid-16th century their Indian trade has led to them growing tea back at home somewhere in the northern mountains of the country.

 

[alexmilman]

At the point British entered the scene, China traded only for silver

Wrong. Russia was buying the Chinese goods for furs.

 

[Kellan Sullivan]

ISTR there was a plan under Louis XV/XVI to attempt to grow both cotton and tea in France. Cotton was in the land between Anjou and Aquitaine, think tea was to have been in the Dombes region.

Not sure how the tea idea went, I know there wasn't much established in the way of cotton farming- only one main "plantation" survived up until the Revolution IIRC