Offering a "nice cup of tea" has long been a stock British response to a crisis. Every Englishman can thank Scotland, Les Wilson reveals, noting that Scottish adventurers and entrepreneurs risked their lives to create tea industries in Darjeeling, Assam, Ceylon, and Africa. Many Scots made fortunes, while native peoples and their environments paid a stiff price. Wilson also brings the story up to date, with a look at the recent development of tea plantations in Scottish hills and glens.