The only problem was that the Chinese weren’t purchasing any British goods in return. Britain was simply dumping its silver into China, creating a serious balance of payments problem.
The British responded by growing opium in India — largely in Bengal, Patna, Benares and the Malwa plateau — and smuggling it into China, in exchange for their beloved beverage.
In mid-1700's Britain became obsessed with tea.It overtook beer as Britain’s favorite brew.
The only problem was that the Chinese weren’t purchasing any British goods in return. Britain was simply dumping its silver into China, creating a serious balance of payments problem.
The British responded by growing opium in India — largely in Bengal, Patna, Benares and the Malwa plateau — and smuggling it into China, in exchange for their beloved beverage.
This led to opium wars in china and was huge headache for British.
So British decided to break China's monopoly by growing tea in the regions of Assam.
They smuggled tea plants and lots of seed from the mainland china through a disguised Scottish horticulturalist Robert Fortune.
The initial attempts were not successful but later they were able to grew few sampling.
This is how India became second largest tea cultivator in the world.