全球史视域下近代中国茶叶贸易探析——以徽州茶叶外销为中心

An Analysis of Modern Chinese Tea Trade from the Perspective of Global History——A Case Study of Huizhou Tea Export

近代以来,伴随通商口岸的开放,茶业逐渐成为近代中国商人的主要行业。但由于受国际经济局势的变动、金银比价的差异、外销国贸易政策调整以及1929—1933年资本主义世界经济危机等因素影响,中国外销茶叶数量不断减少,价格持续下跌。包括徽州茶商在内的大部分中国茶农、茶商面对工业文明的冲击,仍坚持传统的茶叶种植经营模式。印度、日本、锡兰等国改进种植和加工方法,采用机器焙制茶叶,加之政府在税收等方面扶持,印度红茶慢慢占据了英国市场,日本绿茶、印度和锡兰茶叶也逐渐控制了美国市场,中国茶叶的国际市场份额逐渐被挤压。

Since modern times,with the opening of trading ports,tea industry has gradually become the main industry of modern Chi⁃nese businessmen.However,due to the changes in the international economic situation,the difference in the price of gold and silver,the adjustment of trade policies of export countries and the economic crisis in the capitalist world from 1929 to 1933,the number of tea exported by China has been decreasing and the price has been falling continuously.Facing the impact of industrial civilization,most Chinese tea farmers and tea merchants,including Huizhou tea merchants,still adhere to the traditional tea planting business model.In⁃dia,Japan,Ceylon and other countries have improved planting and processing methods and used machines to roast tea;Combined with the government’s tax support,Indian black tea gradually occupied the British market,while Japanese green tea,Indian and Ceylon tea gradually controlled the American market,and the international market share of Chinese tea was gradually squeezed.