Abstract: The tea trade was so important to Sino-Western relations in the early Qing that the eighteenth century has been called the “tea century.” By dividing the Sino-Western tea trade into three phases, this essay examines the quantity and types of tea imported to Europe in each phase, the changes in the types of tea and the reasons for the changes, the tea trade’s impact on the economy of the coastal areas of Southeast China. The author especially examines the sale, distribution and other related aspects of the tea trade in Europe, particularly Britain and also investigates the suitability and potential of Qing handicrafts and commerce in the world market, providing a new perspective on these issues.