>>507950701
Tea was a help but it wasnt about tea itself it was about selling it like anon said here >>507951489 it was a matter of trade power
In general the reason the British empire was much more successful than their European rivals was a matter of economics
They behaved with the ultimate goal of enrichment and benefit
They went to Asia not because they wanted their spices but because they wanted to sell said spices at exorbitant prices to the rest of Europe by monopolizing the market
Friedrich List makes a fine historical argument explaining this