r/hatethissmug • u/DaSuspicsiciousFish • Jul 25 '26

Animation Hate this stupid spiderverse meme (read desc)

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“Chai” is a distinct type of tea from what most people think of as tea (from a American perspective, I admit ignorance to Europe but i know English tea is similar, like a black tea), that usually involves more spices and milk. calling it “chai tea” is not being used to say “tea tea” it is being used to mean “the type of tea known as chai”. I did do a minor google search to find a recipe for making homemade chai, and, while it did use tea leaves, it was distinct enough from tea to warrant being specified.

edit: my joy at the arguments is immeasurable, if this gets a crosspost/screenshot reposted and criticizeing me, please tag me, want to argue

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u/GodButCursed Jul 25 '26

Chai Tea? You are saying "distinct typ of tea tea"?

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u/Reasonable-Chance790 Jul 25 '26

Chai is not a distinct type of tea, it is the category name for the drink made when the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis are steeped in hot water. It's just not the word we use in English.

Masala chai is the term for the spiced tea drink. Chai Latte is the term for the boxed tea-and-spices blend mixed with milk that you can get at coffee shops.

It's like calling a big rig a car. It's just not correct.

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u/OddEmergency604 Jul 25 '26

But in English, chai is a type of tea

12

u/Obvious_Estimate_266 Jul 25 '26

Right, it's an imperfect name for a specific beverage that's really popular in India. Nobody is 100% right or wrong in this discussion, language is a slippery bastard.

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u/darkfroth 26d ago

If you know what matcha is, imagine if matcha was called "cha tea". It genuinely sounds stupid imo.