The role of the British in introducing tea to us is well understood. But did you know that along with the British, the Armenian businessmen of Dhaka also played a significant role in popularising tea in our city?

Tea was not always commonplace the way it is now. According to the book Dhakai Khabar O Khaddo Sangskriti by Sadur Rahman, once upon a time in Dhaka, tea drinking was limited to the Kashmiri, British, and Armenian households.
This, of course, changed; and the Armenians played a role in it. 

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Old Dhaka's Ruplal House and its Armenian connection

In fact, the Armenian community that once lived here contributed a lot to the city. The Puran Dhaka neighbourhood known as Armanitola, and the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection, are just the tip of the iceberg. 

Digging deeper, another example of the Armenian contribution is the commercialisation of the horse-drawn carriage in Dhaka, bringing this mode of commute into the mainstream. One company pioneered this: G M Shircore and Sons.   

This same Armenian firm can also be attributed as a major contributor in popularising tea in our city. Sharif uddin Ahmed, in his book Dhaka: A Study in Urban History and Development (1840-1921), wrote, "G M Shircore and Sons sold such novelties as tea, and were probably responsible for popularising tea drinking in Dhaka."