The Fever Tree Hunt
Summary
This episode of Stuff the British Stole explores the imperial theft of cinchona bark, the source of malaria-fighting quinine. Host Mark Finnell details how British and Dutch agents stole seeds from Peru and Bolivia to cultivate plantations in their colonies, bypassing local protections. The story highlights the exploitation of indigenous knowledge and the resulting global monopoly on quinine, which enabled further colonial expansion.
Topics discussed
Tasting bitter cinchona bark at a cocktail bar
Introduction to the history of tonic and cinchona
The cinchona tree on the Peruvian flag
Malaria as a threat to the British Empire
Kew Gardens and imperial botany
The race to steal cinchona seeds from South America
Sir Clements Markham's failed expedition
Charles Ledger and the Dutch monopoly
Theft, humanitarianism, and lost recognition
Genetic changes and the legacy of gin and tonic
Credits and production details
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