Tea
/tiː/noun
A beverage made by steeping the dried leaves of the tea plant in boiling water.
Did you know?In the 17th century, tea was so valuable in Europe that it was often referred to as 'liquid gold', and its consumption was tied to social status and ritual.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Sino-Tibetan
PST
*te
“the plant whose leaves are used for brewing beverages.”
Old Mandarin
OM
茶 (chá)
“the leaf used for a highly sought beverage.”
Min Chinese
MC
te
“the tea leaf, often traded along maritime routes.”
17th Century
English
tea
“the exotic beverage introduced from China, captivating European society.”