It's a drink that's near and dear to every Malaysian's heart. After all, teh tarik is our national drink. But, this drink was once a major tool of trade that travelled across empires, cultures and centuries. We spill the tea with Erika Rappaport, author of A Thirst for Empire: How Tea Shaped the Modern World to find out how this drink became a cultural icon and a daily ritual for millions.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Sneha Harikannan, Lee Chwi Lynn

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn

This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  markets,  economy,  politics,  international,  environment,  education,  History/Heritage

Tags:  tea plantation,  history of tea,  tea leaves,  ceylon tea,  tea trade,  trade route,  tea,  plantations,  history,  colonialism,  colonial era,  ceylon,  british colonial rule,