The British Opium Monopoly, 1870-1900: Attempts to Induce Change in Production?

This essay aims to contribute to the discussion on the British Opium Monopoly by detailing top-down changes to the opium supply chain from the position of the Opium Monopoly. For its sources, it relies on the Reports on the Administration of the Opium Department from 1870 to 1900, including reports from the opium factories during this period. It argues that the monopoly's security was not necessarily a given due to inconsistency in the annual quality of the opium produced, issues of branding, and issues of packaging.