Tea Road

In 1727 the Treaty of Kyakhta was signed by negotiators Sava Vladislavić of Imperial Russia and Tulišen of the Qing Empire of China. The treaty regulated diplomatic and trade relations between the two empires and created the tea road which stretched all the way from Peking through the Gobi desert and the Siberian Taiga to St. Petersburg in western Russia. Horse and camel caravans carrying wooden crates filled with Chinese black tea were traded for Russian fur and leather. During the long and treacherous journey, campfires were lit to stay warm and unintentionally contributed to the subtle smoke aroma of the black tea. Olfactory Group: Amber Woody