Tea enjoys a special place in British culture and behind Britain’s cup of choice is a fascinating story that is rarely told. Over 500,000 British-Bangladeshis now live in Britain. Over 90% are of Sylheti origin, from a district in northern Bangladesh that was once part of Assam, the first tea growing region in British India.

Panos photographer Tim Smith has retraced the route of the early tea trade and his photographs can be seen at

Gallery Oldham
Oldham Cultural Quarter,
Greaves Street,
Oldham OL1 1AL
United Kingdom

until 6 January 2018.