 Assam produces one sixth of the world's black tea. From English breakfast to Earl Grey, Assam tea is often found in your favorite black tea blends. But the history of Assam tea is once steeped in exploitation. In earlier decades, China had a monopoly on the global tea market. But in the 1840s, British tea producers set up in India to break into the lucrative trade. Named the Assam Company, they recruited a workforce of indentured labourers from all over India. But conditions for workers were poor. Wages were often never paid. Corporal punishment was commonplace, with many workers dying as a result. Even today, tea workers in Assam work in dangerous conditions. Often lacking healthcare facilities and living in poor quality accommodation, in a state comparable to modern-day slavery. Thanks to systemic corruption and poor legal infrastructure, the government has been unable to fully protect these workers. So the focus is shifting to tea importers to drive change instead. Some major tea companies in the UK already follow regulations, such as modern slavery reports. But grey legislation means that although companies must report issues, they aren't forced to act on them. The EU is currently working towards new laws, which would require companies to report human rights violations in their supply chain and act against any violations. The new legislation will push global tea companies towards better practices, hopefully making it easier to buy tea in Europe without supporting questionable producers.