Definition of tea leaf

The term "tea leaf" refers to the dried and crumbled leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, which are used to make various types of tea. The word "tea" itself has an interesting origin, as it was likely borrowed from the Chinese word "té" or "tê" in the Amoy dialect, which was brought to Europe during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) by Buddhist monks who used tea as a medicinal drink. The Chinese name for tea leaves, "té xiǎ" (茶下), literally translates to "tea underneath," as the leaves are infused in water in a teapot or strainer. In Chinese and other East Asian languages, such as Japanese and Korean, the character "茶" (chá or cha) is the same for both tea and tea leaves, as both are made from the same plant. The English word "tea" first appeared in print in 1658, and by the mid-1700s, it had widely replaced the earlier term "chaw" (чат, meaning "spittle" in Old English) for the beverage made from infused tea leaves. The term "tea leaf" itself became commonly used in the 1800s, as tea drinking and manufacturing became more widespread in Europe and America. Today, tea leaves are often referred to as "tea bags" when they are already packaged in small sachets, particularly in Western cultures, but purists still prefer to use loose-leaf tea in tea pots or strainers, which allows for greater flexibility in Steeping times and brewing methods.