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11. “Tea” if by sea, “cha” if by Land: the history of tea, colonialism, and globalisation! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Thinking in English

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The World Has Only Two Words for Tea

The world has only two words for tea. One is like English tea and the other is Cha or Chai, Sha'i. The origins of both can be found in China and Chinese languages. As China traded with its neighbours, the word Cha began to spread. It was also taken across the Silk Road - the name we give to the ancient trade route connecting east to west, China to the Middle East and Europe. But why? How can such a popular and ancient product only have two names?

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