The word “tea” is one of the few English words of Chinese origin. It is derived from the plant’s name as it is pronounced in South China. In standard Chinese, it is pronounced “cha” In South China, it is pronounced “te” or “tay,” the vowel sound being “e.”

There are two sayings concerning the early spread of tea outside China.

In the 17th century, tea was introduced into Indonesia where local people in Java picked up the sound of “te” or “tay” from South China. Later, Dutch arrived there and soon learned how to drink tea. They brought tea back to Europe, where “te” began to be known both on the continent and in Britain.

The other saying is that the Portuguese opened up sea routes to China. Some says that the opening-up was as early as 1515. Jesuit priests, including Father Jasper de Cruz, were on the Portuguese ships; and they brought the tea drinking habit and tea word “te” or “tay” to Portugal. By 1610, tea was shipped, on a regular basis, to ports in France, Holland and the Baltic coast.

This article by Yang Tianqing and Daniel Kister.