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Let’s build a large and fast ship for tea! The foolish endeavor that led to the clipper ship.

This article As introduced in this article, the whiskey Cutty Sark is named after the Cutty Sark, a large sailing ship that was used to transport tea. The Cutty Sark was a tea clipper, a type of large sailing ship designed for carrying tea. In this article, we will share the story of how tea clippers came into existence due to the “foolish actions” of some men.

Until the 1840s, ships were either large but slow or fast but small. Smaller ships were used for smuggling tea and secret operations, while larger ships were used for cargo transport across the oceans.

In a world where there were only these two types of ships, no one imagined any other options. However, shipowners Howland and Aspinwall in New York, seeing the potential to build wealth through tea trade with China, commissioned the construction of a “large and fast ship.” Their unconventional plan for a “large and fast ship” was mocked as “Aspinwall’s folly” by those around them.

Nevertheless, the ship they created, the “Rainbow,” featured an innovative design that allowed it to carry more cargo than previous speed-focused clippers and also cross the oceans like a large sailing ship while remaining fast. This marked the beginning of the “tea clippers,” ships that would later be known for their role in rapidly transporting tea from China to Britain. Recognizing the threat posed by these American-built “large and fast ships,” the British began constructing their own clippers, leading to the creation of the Cutty Sark, which was introduced at the beginning of the article.

Previously introduced As previously introduced, Hikokuro Sugiyama, who developed the well-known “Yabukita” variety, was also regarded as an eccentric by those around him, but he succeeded in creating the excellent tea variety “Yabukita” over 100 years ago.

Every time I encounter stories about tea clippers, the Yabukita variety, Sen no Rikyū, and other figures, I feel that the world of tea has been shaped by unconventional and eccentric great individuals who were often ridiculed as lunatics or fools. It is important to continue challenging oneself not only to preserve traditions but also to create new cultures.

The tea clipper eventually evolved into a competition known as the “Tea Race,” filled with innovation and romance. The history leading up to the Tea Race, marked by innovation, surprise, determination, and competition, is introduced here. If you’re interested, please take a look.

Reference:
Beatrice Hohenegger (Author), Nori Hirata (Translator), “The World Tea: From China’s Elixir to the World’s Drink,” Hakusuisha, February 2010, Pages 170-171