The Khmer Empire's Tea Trade: Angkor's Forgotten Commerce

Angkor Wat is famous for its sandstone temples and vast waterworks, but what about the everyday commerce that sustained the empire? In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Khmer Empire's role in the regional tea trade. They discuss how tea from the Cardamom Mountains and Yunnan found its way to Angkor's markets, the cultural significance of tea in Khmer society, and how trade networks connected the empire to China, Champa, and beyond. They also touch on the archaeological evidence for tea consumption, including ceramic finds from Angkorian sites. The conversation highlights a lesser-known aspect of Angkor's economy, showing that the empire was not just a religious and political center but also a hub of commerce. #TeaTrade #AngkorWat #KhmerEmpire #SoutheastAsiaHistory #CardamomMountains #Yunnan #CamelliaSinensis #AngkorMarkets #ZhouDaguan #SuryavarmanII #JayavarmanVII #Champa #SongDynasty #Ceramics #HistoryOfTea #FexingoHistory #Podcast #Archaeology Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo