When Vasco da Gama set sail from Lisbon on May 20, 1498, he sailed “in search of Christians and spices”. The former was undoubtedly the chimerical Christian kingdom of Prestor John, and the latter was the obsession of all Europe. His first voyage ended at the Malabar Coast (Cochin and Calicut), the center of the India-China spice trade. It was a triumph that would assure Portugal’s role as a major maritime power for two centuries.
In addition to opening the sea route to the Orient, da Gama also set the tone of “hatred and vengeance” which would characterize Portuguese-Muslim relations for the future. By 1504, the Pope received a threat that Christian holy places would be destroyed “unless something was done to curb the Portuguese”.
"Upton Tea Imports was founded in 1989 with the objective of providing the North American tea drinker with
the finest teas available. We purchase teas from reputable brokers and estates worldwide, dealing only with
sources who are capable of providing top quality teas. We sell directly to the consumer, thus ensuring the
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