THE NORTHERN TEA ROAD AND THE STUDY OF ITS HISTORY

The article considers the Northern Tea Road, linking China, Central Asia and Russia. Based on  historical analysis, the tea trade and routes are studied according to archival materials and researches along  this road. The Central Asian merchants, including the Bukharians, the Tashkentions played an mediating role in the tea trade and carried it as Chinese food and medicinal products. The Northern Tea Road has  existed since the middle of the 17th century. and was more ancient than the Great Tea Road, which  connected Russia, Mongolia and China.