Tea Clippers Raced To London

During the middle third of the 19th century, tea clippers (merchant ships) carrying each season's new tea crop from China to Britain competed in informal races to be the first to dock in London. Merchants offered premiums for the first arrival because early cargoes could command high prices, while a reputation for speed helped ships secure better freight rates. In the Great Tea Race of 1866, Taeping beat Ariel by just 28 minutes after traveling more than 14,000 miles in 99 days, and the two ships ultimately shared the prize.

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