Map of the Movement of "Tea" & "Cha" Around the Globe

Illustration

Simeon Netchev
by and
published on 14 April 2022
Subscribe to author
Map of the Movement of Download Full Size Image

This map illustrates the global spread of tea and its many names, tracing how two primary root words—“cha” and “te”—originated in China and dispersed across cultures through trade. The linguistic patterns reveal how tea’s journey followed both land routes like the Silk Road and maritime networks, particularly during the age of European exploration.

The term “cha” spread via overland trade, especially across Central Asia and the Islamic world, while “te” traveled with Dutch maritime merchants who introduced tea to Europe in the 17th century. Interestingly, in regions where tea is indigenous, such as parts of South Asia and East Africa, local names for tea developed independently of Chinese influence. This map captures not just the commodity’s movement, but also how language traces its global path.

Remove Ads
Advertisement
Subscribe to this author

About the Author

Simeon Netchev
Simeon is a freelance visual designer and history teacher, passionate about the human stories that shape the past. He believes every image should tell a story and invite interaction, while every map should lead on a journey — blending imagination with e

Cite This Work

APA Style

Netchev, S. (2022, April 14). Map of the Movement of "Tea" & "Cha" Around the Globe. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14112/map-of-the-movement-of-tea--cha-around-the-globe/

Chicago Style

Netchev, Simeon. "Map of the Movement of "Tea" & "Cha" Around the Globe." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified April 14, 2022. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14112/map-of-the-movement-of-tea--cha-around-the-globe/.

MLA Style

Netchev, Simeon. "Map of the Movement of "Tea" & "Cha" Around the Globe." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 14 Apr 2022, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14112/map-of-the-movement-of-tea--cha-around-the-globe/. Web. 16 Jun 2025.

Membership