The Price of Tea

Mary Li

Understanding the cost it took for tea to become a commodity in Britain, and how it became it’s most consumed beverage and its connection to colonialism whilst delving into topics of cultural appropriation and symbolism. As a designer, I want to inform and educate the audience on the ‘price of tea’ and instil meaning into the average British person’s everyday routine while acknowledging the sacrifice China and India experienced in the cultivation and export of tea. Using a blue and beige colour theme to reference the porcelain that was sought after by the British Empire alongside cultural information and customs. Using visual metaphors and text to describe the role of tea and China’s borders in the Opium war between the British Empire, with the plant being a key feature.