Books in our Repertoire

 Here is a list of the books we have already read. 

1. © Aesop's Fables (anthology)

2. © Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery (Newbery Honor 1936)

3. ©  Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne  (1873)

4. ©  Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (1877 - the 6th best seller in the English language & the first English story to feature animal characters)

5. © Book of Virtues by William J. Bennett (anthology)

6. © Call of the Wild by Jack London (Newbery Honor)

7. © Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. & Ernestine Gilbreth Carey (1948)

8. © Cricket in Times Square by George Selden  (Newbery Honor 1961)

9. © From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (Newbery Winner)

10. © Goodbye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton  (novella/1934)

11.   Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling  (contemporary)

12. © Heidi by Johanna Spyri (Newbery Honor 1963)

13. © Holes by Louis Sachar (Newbery Winner)

14. © Hounds of Baskerville by Arthur Conan Doyle  (Newberry Honor 1962)

15. © Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes (LH/Newbery Winner)

16. © Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder (LH/Newbery Honor 1933)

17. © Madeleine Takes Command by Ethel C. Brill (LH/published in 1946)

18. © Mama's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes  (published 1943)

19. © Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan  (LH/Newbery Honor 1986)

20. © Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare  (LH/Newbery Honor)

21. © The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare  (LH/Newbery Honor)

22. © The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh  (LH/Newbery Honor) 

23. © The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes  (Newbery Honor & Caldecott Medalist)

24. © The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter   (LH/ Revolutionary War) (published 1953) 

25. © The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (Newberry Winner)

26. © The Pearl by John Steinbeck (LH/Parable Format/novella) (published 1947)

27. © The Small War of Sergeant Donkey by Maureen Daly  (LH/WWII Italy) (published 1966)

28. © The Twenty-one Balloons by William Pène du Bois  (Newbery Honor/Winner 1948)

29.   The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser  (contemporary)

30. © The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis (Newbery Honor 1953)

31. © The Winged Watchman by Hilda van Stockum  (LH/WWII Denmark/Newbery Honor 1962)

© =   Literary Classic!
LH = Living History

2020-21 Writing Camp 5th Homework

Your homework is to write a 1 paragraph essay using your favorite sentence from class about the dragon and the tea party. 

Include an indication of each DRESS UP. Check the sidebar if you need a reminder about the DRESS UPs.

If you have had class with me before, please include 4 indicated OPENERs. 

I cannot wait to read your stories!

2020-21 Writing Camp 9th Homework DUE: Thursday 12-31-2020

Your assignment:

Write a 3 paragraph essay about Creative Constraints.

NO banned words or dialogue

Ann, Gogo, and Harry - please use and indicate stylistic techniques as you see fit. 

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

SOURCES

The Love Affair Between Creativity and Constraint | Tess Callahan | 

• Form 
• Imposed Incongruity
• Time 

The Power of Constraints  | Phil Hanson | 

Thought provoking nuggets from Phil Hanson's Ted Talk: 

• people may think that limitation is an unlikely place to harness creativity

• embracing limitations can drive creativity

• one can become more creative by looking for limitations

• we might have to be limited to become limitless

• continue to show up for the process

• challenge the accepted norms

• seize the day -- seize the limitations 

• embrace the shake

These resources might help you:

PHYSICAL:

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/25/sport/bethany-hamilton-surfing-spt-intl/index.html

SELF IMPOSED:

https://www.skillshare.com/blog/learn/6-artists-who-are-ignoring-creative-limits-to-craft-spectacular-careers

Form 

Imposed Incongruity

Time (could also be a physical or practical constraint)  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZbv9c0ruPU  

Tess Callahan: The Affair Between Creativity and Constraint

PRACTICAL:

Mars Rover: 1:42 minute mark through the ~3:00 minute mark

Closing thought: Ultimate limitations can become ultimate liberation.  (Phil Hanson)

This makes me think of Maximilian Kolbe and Mother Teresa

Maximilian Kolbe

When the Nazis overran his country of Poland in 1939, they eventually imprisoned Kolbe in the Auschwitz death camp, where in 1941 he offered to take the place of a man condemned to die in reprisal for an escaped prisoner. His offer accepted, he died two weeks later on August 14. In the process he ministered to nine others dying with him from starvation. 

Mother Teresa    Movie Trailer

The suffering and poverty that Teresa glimpsed outside her convent walls made such a deep impression on her that in 1948 she devoted herself to working among the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta. Although she had no funds, she depended on Divine Providence, and started an open-air school for slum children. Soon she was joined by voluntary helpers, and financial support was also forthcoming. 

Her work spread around the world. By 2013, there were 700 missions operating in over 130 countries. The scope of their work also expanded to include orphanages and hospices for those with terminal illnesses.

2020-21 Writing Camp 7th Homework DUE: Wednesday 12-30-2020

 Creative Constraints

2 paragraph essay

no banned words or dialogue

1st  paragraph - summarize the video and include important highlights and thought provoking nuggets

examples: 

• people may think that limitation is an unlikely place to harness creativity

• embracing limitations can drive creativity

• one can become more creative by looking for limitations

• we might have to be limited to become limitless

• continue to show up for the process

• challenge the accepted norms

• seize the day -- seize the limitations

2nd paragraph - find an example(s) of this theory of creative constraints leading to broader or better or unimagined outcomes. The constraint might be physical, perceived, or practical.

These resources might help you:

PHYSICAL:

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/25/sport/bethany-hamilton-surfing-spt-intl/index.html

SELF IMPOSED:

https://www.skillshare.com/blog/learn/6-artists-who-are-ignoring-creative-limits-to-craft-spectacular-careers

Form 

Imposed Incongruity

Time (could also be a physical or practical constraint)  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZbv9c0ruPU  

Tess Callahan: The Affair Between Creativity and Constraint

PRACTICAL:

Mars Rover: 1:42 minute mark through the ~3:00 minute mark

2020-21 Writing Camp 5th Homework DUE: Wednesday 12-30-2020

Your last homework assignment was to write examples sentences for each DRESS UP. 

 
Your new homework assignment is to choose one of your sentences, and use it as a writing prompt. 

Write a one paragraph essay (story) and include one indicated example of each DRESS UP.

Remember that DRESS UPs are IN the sentence, they do not begin the sentence.

Indicate the DRESS UP word by bolding and underlining it.

w/w  = a who clause and a which clause   

bc = because clause

ly = ly adverb

www asia = when,   while,   where,   as,   since,   if,   although   (indicate ONE asia dress-up in your paragraph)

REMEMBER that you may not use "when" or "where" as question words.

QA = quality adjective

SV = strong verb

2020-21 Writing Camp 9th Homework DUE: Tuesday 12-29-2020

CHOOSE A WRITING PROMPT   

WRITE 1 PARAGRAPH 

INDICATE 1 EXAMPLE OF EACH DRESS UP & EACH OPENER

Write about a backup dancer who’s on tour and just wants some peace and quiet for the holidays.

OR

Write about a young nobleman whose greatest wish is to become an Olympic long jumper.

OR

Write about a drummer going to a holiday party for musicians.

NO DIALOUGE
NO BANNED WORDS
NO CONTRACTIONS

MERRIWEATHER 12. 5

INCLUDE NAME & DATE STAMP - top left 1.15 spacing

INCLUDE CENTERED TITLE BLOCK  - tile bolded, lower case b, 1.15 spacing

DOUBLE SPACE YOUR ESSAY

EXAMPLE:

Peggy Cortez

DUE: Thursday, December 24, 2020

Homework

Title

by

Peggy Cortez

  Please remember to indent.  You must also remember to double space your essay. Use

Merriweather 12.5 font. You will have to type in 12.5 because it is not standard. Indicate properly.

(6) Edit for banned words. Remember to make sentences BETTER when you get rid of banned words.

DRESS UPs   -   indicate by underlining and bolding the word

w/w =   who/which clauses

bc  = because

ly =ly adverb

www asia  =  when    while    where    as   since    if   although

QA = quality adjective
SV = strong verb     She wandered down the street with a daydreamer’s pace.

OPENERs   - indicate by placing  the number inside parenthesis BEFORE the sentence/ bold and highlight the indication/label

1 - bc *

2 - prep

3 - ly

4 - ing *

5 - asia *

6 - vss

7 - ed *

1s, 4s, 5s, and 7s always need commas.

EXAMPLES:

(1)Because the boy was not paying attention, he tripped.    

(1) Because it was raining, she grabbed her umbrella.  

Check your 1s by reversing the sentence while keeping the same meaning. If it can be done, you have created a (1) properly. Example: She grabbed her umbrella because it was raining.

(2) In the beginning the class was easy.

(2) From the depths of the ocean the merpeople emerged to avenge the death of their queen.

(3) Softly the wind tickled her neck.

(3)  Finally the quidditch match ended and Gryffindor had won the House Cup. 

(4) Laughing with joy, the woman accepted the award.

(4)  Running from the cops, Dereck tried to quell his panic.

(4)  Looking frantically from left to right, the child was trying to cross the road.

(4) Singing under the window, the troubadour declared his love for the beautiful young woman with melody and rhyme.

(5) If you want money, you must work for it.

REMEMBER! Never use “when” or “where” as question words in (5)s

(6)  He ran quickly.

(7)  Frustrated, she banged on the keyboard!

(7)  Overjoyed by the news, the man ran home.

Food for thought: “The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.” – Tom Clancy

2020-21 Winter Camp 7th Homework DUE: Monday 12-28-2020

Your homework is to compose our own version of The 12 Days of Christmas.

The cadence must match the song.

What is Cadence?

 It is the modulation and inflection of words and/or phrases. It is the rhythm of sounds.

Cadence is an important literary device used to indicate the rising and falling of the voice when reading words. Melodic patterns arise while reading words.  So, it stands to reason that songs can help us learn cadence. In both poetry and prose, cadence helps set a pace and help us predict which words to stress when we read.

And this one is just for fun. It is Straight No Chaser's

fantastic and original arrangement of this classic song.

And, of course, here is the crazy fun version we watched in class.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the third day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
12 Drummers Drumming
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞  ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞  ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞  ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞   ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞  ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞  ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞  ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

THIS IS HOW ONE (very successful author) CHANGED THE WORDS:

THE 12 DOGS OF CHRISTMAS!

On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a Poodle in a dog house.

On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 2 St. Bernards and a Poodle in a dog house.

On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 3 Cocker Spaniels, 2 St. Bernards, and a Poodle in a dog house.

On the 4th day of of Christmas my true love to me 4 Basset Hounds, 3 Cocker Spaniels, 2 St. Bernards, and a Poodle in a dog house.

On the 5 day of Christmas my true love gave to me 5 golden retrievers, 4 Basset Hounds 3 Cocker Spaniels, 2 St. Bernards and a poodle in a dog house.

On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 6 Boxers boxing, 5 Golden Retrievers, 4 Basset Hounds, 3 Cocker Spaniels, 2 St. Bernards and a Poodle in a dog house.

On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 7 huskies howling, 6 Boxers boxing, 5 Golden Retrievers, 4 Basset Hounds, 3 Cocker Spaniels, 2 St. Bernards and a Poodle in a dog house.

On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 8 Sheepdogs sleeping, 7 Huskies howling, 6 Boxers boxing, 5 Golden Retrievers, 4 Basset Hounds, 3 Cocker Spaniels, 2 St. Bernards and a Poodle in a dog house.

On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 9 Chihuahuas chomping, 8 Sheepdogs sleeping, 7 Huskies howling, 6 Boxers boxing, 5 Golden Retrievers, 4 Basset Hounds, 3 Cocker Spaniels, 2 St. Bernards and a Poodle in a dog house.

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 10 Dalmatians dancing, 9 Chihuahuas chomping, 8 Sheepdogs snoring, 7 Huskies howling, 6 Boxers boxing, 5 Golden Retrievers, 4 Basset Hounds, 3 Cocker Spaniels, 2 St. Bernards and a Poodle in a dog house.

On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 11 Labs a'laughing, 10 Dalmatians dancing, 9 Chihuahuas chomping, 8 Sheepdogs snoring, 7 Huskies howling, 6 Boxers boxing, 5 Golden Retrievers, 4 Basset Hounds, 3 Cocker Spaniels, 2 St. Bernards and a Poodle in a dog house.

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
A  CAT

2020-21 Winter Camp 5th Grade Homework DUE: Monday 12-28-2020

Write two examples sentences of each DRESS UP.  Remember that DRESS UPs are IN the sentence, they do not begin the sentence.

Indicate the DRESS UP word by bolding and underlining it.

w/w  = who clause and which clause   (write two examples for each)

bc = because clause

ly = ly adverb

www asia = when,   while,   where,   as,   since,   if,   although   (write two examples for each)

REMEMBER that you may not use "when" or "where" as question words.

QA = quality adjective

SV = strong verb

July Writing Camp Homework DUE: Friday, July 31, 2020

Your assignment is to write one wonderful paragraph about the History of Tea. 

Please use any of our camp website source information. Here is the link to The History of Tea.

YOU decide what dress ups and openers, DECs, M3s, and/or OWLs to use to make your essay great.  Indicate one of any stylistic technique* you use.

What is a stylistic technique? 

stylistic technique = dress ups, openers, DECs, M3s, OWLs

NO BANNED WORDS  (the exception is that you are allowed to use the verb eat)
NO CONTRACTIONS
NO DIALOGUE

TedED +Curiosity Stream - The History of Tea

Tea 抹茶 is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water –– and from sugary Turkish Rize tea to salty Tibetan butter tea, there are almost as many ways of preparing the beverage as there are cultures on the globe. 

Where did this beverage originate, and how did it become so popular? Shunan Teng details tea’s long history.

 

          Our history of tea begins with the legend of the “divine famer” Shen Nong who is credited in many ancient Chinese texts with various agricultural accomplishments. However, some scholars of ancient China now believe Shen Nong might in fact originally have referred to a group of people, living within China and utilizing particularly advanced agricultural techniques for the era. Over time this people’s knowledge of farming was canonized in the form of legends about a divine farmer who shared their name, and whose fame ultimately eclipsed their own.

         The Classics of Tea by Lu Yu in Tang Dynasty is considered a monumental book on tea even though most of the details in the book are no longer relevant today. The book introduced fundamental structure to studying tea that to this day has a direct impact on tea scholars and connoisseurs: terroir, varietal, crafting, vessel, water, preparing, tasting, and appreciation in the text of history and art.

           When tea was popularly consumed in the powdered form in Song Dynasty, the style of brewing where the tea was whisked with hot water to create a creamy drink is called dian cha (點茶). The most desired glaze for the tea bowls was black, to contrast the appearance of tea art created with the white foam resulted from the whisking. This style of teaware is generally referred to as jian zhan (建盏) or tian mu you (天目釉), which along with the powered tea muo cha or matcha (末茶/抹茶) and the whisking method all had a profound influence on Japanese tea drinking traditions and teaware.

Japanese further developed rituals around dian cha, standardized many of the steps, and from there had born the Japanese tea ceremony. Sen no Rikyū is considered the most definitive figure in shaping the Japanese Tea Ceremony today. He rose from commoner to prominent social status in feudal Japan because of his outstanding skills with tea as well as his zen practices. Eventually Daimyo Hideyoeshi ordered him to commit suicide, possibly because of disagreements about tea.

In Ming Dynasty, needs for war horses led to large scale of government sponsored tea trade between China’s tea regions and Tibet in exchange for war horses. These routes are called Tea-Horse Roads. The trade continued all the way till the end of Qing Dynasty, leaving legacies of large number of ancient tea trees and once bustling townships to today’s fascination.

The first attempt to commercially plant tea in the United States started as early as 1744. However, various attempts were not fruitful till over a century later, with the success of a sizable plantation in South Carolina in 1887. The plantation was funded by Congress and powered by a labor force of children. The operation was once owned by The Lipton Tea Company and continued to today as the most notable tea plantation in mainland US.

When not writing and teaching about tea, Shunan Teng applies tea traditions and knowledge through her tea house, Tea Drunk.


LAGNIAPPE:

The History of Tea

Ancient China: The Birthplace of Tea

The history of tea dates back to ancient China, almost 5,000 years ago. According to legend, in 2732 B.C. Emperor Shen Nung discovered tea when leaves from a wild tree blew into his pot of boiling water. He was immediately interested in the pleasant scent of the resulting brew, and drank some. Legend says the Emperor described a warm feeling as he drank the intriguing brew, as if the liquid was investigating every part of his body.

Shen Nung named the brew "ch'a", the Chinese character meaning to check or investigate. In 200 B.C. a Han Dynasty Emperor ruled that when referring to tea, a special written character must be used illustrating wooden branches, grass, and a man between the two. This written character, also pronounced "ch'a" symbolized the way tea brought humankind into balance with nature for the Chinese culture.

China's Tea History

The popularity of tea in China continued to grow rapidly from the 4th through the 8th century. No longer merely used for its medicinal properties, tea became valued for everyday pleasure and refreshment. Tea plantations spread throughout China, tea merchants became rich, and expensive, elegant tea wares became the banner for the wealth and status of their owners.

The Chinese empire tightly controlled the preparation and cultivation of the crop. It was even specified that only young women, presumably because of their purity, were to handle the tea leaves. These young female handlers were not to eat garlic, onions, or strong spices in case the odor on their fingertips might contaminate the precious tea leaves.

The Invention of Black Tea
Up to the mid-17th century, all Chinese tea was Green tea. As foreign trade increased, though, the Chinese growers discovered that they could preserve the tea leaves with a special fermentation process. The resulting Black tea kept its flavor and aroma longer than the more delicate Green teas and was better equipped for the export journeys to other countries.

Tea in Modern Day China
Tea has remained an integral part of Chinese culture for thousands of years; it was popular before the Egyptians built the great pyramids and was traded with Asian countries even before Europe left the dark ages. The importance and popularity of tea in China continues in modern day and has become a symbol of the country's history, religion, and culture.

Today, students compete to attend the very selective and exceptional Shanghai Tea Institute. The highest level students are required to play the traditional Guzheng stringed instrument, perform a flawless tea-serving ceremony, speak a foreign language to entertain overseas guests, and distinguish between about 1,000 different types of Chinese tea...to date fewer than 75 students have been awarded a Tea Art certificate. There is also an entire amusement park called the Tenfu Tea Museum - China's equivalent of Disneyland - that honors the Chinese tea-drinking traditions.

Tibet's Tea History

The Chinese had introduced tea to Tibet by the dawn of the 9th century. Tibet's rugged climate and rocky terrain made cultivation of their own plants difficult, so tea had to be imported from China via yak caravan. The long, tiring journey into Tibet by yak took nearly one year and was threatened not only by the dramatic terrain of some of the highest mountains in the world, but by tea-seeking thieves and pirates. To keep up with the high Tibetan tea demand, nearly two to three hundred tea-laden yaks entered the country daily.

Tea became so popular in Tibet and the surrounding areas that it was used as a form of currency. Compressed tea was a common form of payment for almost anything, and workers and servants were routinely paid in this way.

Traditional Tibetan Tea
Traditionally, Tibetan tea is made by boiling the leaf for about half an hour before passing the liquid through a strainer made of horsehair (sometimes today made of plastic) into a long wooden container. Traditionally, yak butter and salt are added to the tea and churned until emulsified. These additives help replace the fat and salt lost by those living in the high-altitude regions of the Himalayan Mountains. Younger generations of Tibetans sometimes drink a variation of Indian Chai.

A Tibetan Staple
Tea remains a Tibetan staple, with per-person consumption of up to 40 cups or more daily. Tibetan etiquette dictates that no guest should go without tea and that his or her cup can never be empty.

Japan's Tea History

In the early 9th century, Japanese visitors to China were introduced to the values and traditions of tea. The Buddhist monk Dengyo Daishi is credited for bringing Chinese tea seeds to Japan when he returned from his studies abroad. Tea became an integral part of Japanese monastery life; monks used tea to help stay alert during meditation sessions. By the early 1300's tea gained popularity throughout Japanese society, but its early religious importance permanently colored the meaning and value the Japanese associate with tea and directly influenced the Japanese Tea Ceremony.

The Japanese Tea Ceremony
The sacred Japanese tea ceremony, called "Chanoyu", evolved in the late 15th century under the influence of the Japanese philosophies of Zen Buddhism. The ceremony places supreme importance on respecting the act of making and drinking tea. Zen Buddhism honors the essential elements of Japanese philosophy (harmony, purity, respect, and tranquility) during Chanoyu. The tea ceremony was so important that special tea rooms were built in backyard gardens, and mastery of the tea ceremony was a required for women to marry.

Traditional Japanese Tea
The tea used in Chanoyu was made by whisking water into potent ground green tea called "Matcha". Although unusual to the Western palate, the Japanese preferred the fresh, green flavors of Matcha to the steeped tea brewing methods. Steeped tea became popular again in Japan in the late 1730's when experimental tea processors discovered that steaming the leaves to stop fermentation produced a greener and more flavorsome tea that more closely resembled the fresh, potent flavors characteristic of Matcha.

Tea in Modern Day Japan
Today, tea is completely infused (no pun intended) in Japanese culture. Tea is served with every meal, and used to greet to every guest. Bottled tea is found in vending machines and shops even peddle "Green Tea" flavored ice cream.

Because of the limited land area (Japan is a series of mountainous islands, after all), intricate terraces are carved out of the mountainsides to grow tea. The tea industry in Japan is the most technologically advanced in the world. Currently, Japanese plantations use many specialized machines in the production of tea in direct contrast to the ancient, hand-processed methods of tea production still widespread in China. Because of their different taste preference, the Japanese have engineered their tea to taste greener, more potent, and less sweet than that produced in China.

Russia's Tea History

In 1618, the Chinese presented a gift of tea to Tsar Alexis of Russia. Everyone was curious about the new beverage and tea quickly gained popularity. A camel caravan trade route emerged to transport tea into the country. This caravan covered 11,000 miles and took nearly 1½ years to travel by camel. To keep the tea-hungry Russians satisfied, nearly 6,000 camels - each carrying 600 pounds of tea - entered Russia each year. In 1903 the camel caravan was replaced by the famous Trans-Siberian Railway, which slashed the transportation time from 1½ years to just over a week.

Europe's Tea History

The Portuguese and Dutch first imported tea into Europe in 1610...Rembrandt was just 4 years old! England's dance with tea did not start until 1662 when King Charles II married the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza. Britain's new Queen had always loved tea and brought with her, as part of her dowry, a chest of fine Chinese tea. She began serving the tea to her aristocratic friends at Court, and word of the exotic Royal beverage spread quickly.

Tea as a Status Symbol
As an imported luxury, only the wealthy could afford to drink tea. The least expensive pound of tea available cost the average laborer about a month's worth of wages. The lofty tea prices made tea highly fashionable and elitist. The ability to serve and drink tea with elegance and skill marked social status and indicated good breeding and intellect. To that end, many wealthy 18th century English and Dutch families had paintings made of the family having tea.

The "Afternoon Tea"
Afternoon tea, still a popular British institution, is credited to Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, who complained of the long gap between a light breakfast and a late evening meal. To appease her cravings, she advised her maid to bring a pot of tea and light refreshments to her room. Anna soon began to invite friends to join her for afternoon tea...and the trend spread quickly.

The "High Tea"
High tea is a very much a different thing than the Afternoon tea. High tea, though it sounds more elite, is actually a 19th century working class custom. High tea is served later (around 6:00 PM) and consists of a full dinner meal for the common people. High tea is served alongside meats, fish or eggs, cheese, bread and butter, and cake. High tea is more of a man's meal, while Afternoon tea is more of a lady's social diversion.

The Role of Tea in Globalization

The Dutch dominated the tea trade until 1678 when the British began importing tea on a commercial scale. The British Royal family, seeking full control and profits over trade, chartered the East India Company and granted it a monopoly on all trade throughout Asia and Eastern Africa. The East India Company quickly became the most powerful monopoly the world has ever known - and tea was its primary commodity. They were given the right to acquire territory, coin money, keep armies and forts, punish lawbreakers, form foreign alliances, and even declare war.

The reign of the East India Company continued until the British Parliament declared the trade routes open to competition in 1833. There were, however, many lasting effects of the centuries of dominance. The British East India Company changed the world: They claimed Hong Kong, Singapore, and India as British colonies, and prompted a global economy...all because of tea.

India's Tea History

The Opium Wars
As tea consumption grew, Britain's exports could not keep up with the demand for tea imports. The Chinese were more interested in silver than in cotton, Britain's main export. Finding enough silver to trade for tea became increasingly difficult, however, so the British turned to growing opium in its large Asian colony...India. The scheming British sent opium to China across the Indian border in exchange for silver, then traded the same silver back to China for tea. The illegal opium scheme worked until 1839 when a Chinese official sent 20,000 chests of opium to a watery grave in a sea near Canton. A year later, Britain declared war on China and China retaliated by placing a strict embargo on all exports of tea.

Tea Plantations in India
China was hesitant about trading with the West even before the Opium Wars began. China believing their nation to be self-sufficient and took steps toward isolation. The difficulty of obtaining Chinese tea prompted Britain to explore other alternatives...like growing their own tea.

The climate and high altitudes of Northern India made it a promising location for tea cultivation. Also, explorers had discovered indigenous tea plants growing in Assam, India as early as 1823. Before long, Indians became experts on growing very beautiful tea plants, but lacked knowledge on tea processing. Robert Fortune, a Scottish botanist, is credited for spying on China's ancient sacred tea processing techniques and returning to India with knowledge, equipment, and a small team of experienced Chinese growers.

North America's Tea History

It is no surprise that early North America, colonized by Europe, was a tea-drinking continent. Europe's same traditions and rules of etiquette crossed the Atlantic; Teahouses and elegant silver and porcelain tea accessories were popular in the new cities of New York, Boston, and Philadelphia.

The American Revolution
By the second half of the 18th century, tea constituted the single largest and most valuable commodity exported by Britain. The British government ordered a specific "tea tax" to capitalize off its popularity in America. Greed prevailed and the tax rate gradually reached 119%, more than doubling the initial cost of tea as it entered the American wholesale market.

In defiance, the American ports refused to allow any dutiable goods ashore. This resulted in the infamous Boston Tea Party, the British government's closure of Boston harbor, and the arrival of British troops on American soil. This series of events marked the beginning of the American War of Independence...and America's preference for coffee. Boycotting tea became an act of patriotism.

American Advancements in Tea Drinking
The United States is still responsible for a few major changes in the tea industry. At the St. Louis World Trade Fair of 1904, a group of tea producers organized a special tea pavilion and offered cups of hot tea to all attendees. The unusually hot summer temperatures prompted the man supervising the deserted booth to pour tea into glasses packed with ice cubes. Customers lined up to try the new invention - iced tea. Today, the U.S. guzzles almost 50-billion glasses of iced tea in a single year, which accounts for more than 80% of all tea consumed stateside.

Tea bags were also developed in the United States, albeit by accident. In 1908, a New York tea merchant sent samples of his product sealed in silk bags to restaurants and cafes throughout the city. After some time, he discovered that the restaurants were brewing his tea directly in the silk bags to save time. This method of brewing immediately caught on.

Tea in Modern America
Even though tea is the most popular drink in the world (besides water), it has only recently been on the rise in the United States. Today, thousands of Americans are adding tea into their healthy diets or substituting tea for coffee and soft drinks.  source: History of Tea (site not secure)

The following list includes the words for "tea" in over 60 different languages from around the world. It also features a guide to which languages use the same or similar words for tea.  Note: Many of these words have been Romanized. (source cited @ the end of the article) 

How to Say Tea in Different Languages

• Afrikaans: tee
• Albanian: caj (pronounced chai)
• Arabic: chai or shai
• Armenian: te
• Azerbaijani: caj (pronounced chai)
• Basque: tea
• Belarusian: harbatu  (see Polish pronunciation)
• Bengali/Bangla: cha
• Bulgarian: chai
• Catalan: té
• Chinese (Cantonese): cha
• Chinese (Mandarin): cha (second tone / pronounced with the "a" in a rising tone)
• Croatian: caj (pronounced chai)
• Czech: caj (pronounced cha-i)
• Danish: te
• Dutch: thee
• English: tea
• Esperanto: teo
• Filipino/Tagalog: tsaa
• Finnish: tee
• French: le thé (masculine)
• Galician: té
• Georgian: chai
• German: der Tee (masculine; the "T" is capitalized because all German nouns are capitalized)
• Greek: tsai
• Haitian Creole: té
• Hebrew: teh
• Hindi: chai
• Hungarian: tea (plural: teak)
• Irish: tae
• Italian: te (pronounced teh)
• Icelandic: te
• Indonesian: teh
• Japanese: o-cha (o- is used as a prefix meaning "honorable" and -cha is used to mean "tea" in various tea names, such as matcha, sencha and hojicha)
• Korean: cha
• Latvian: teja (pronounced tay-ya)
• Lithuanian: arbata  (see Polish pronunciation)
• Luxembourgish: Téi (like in German, all nouns are capitalized in Luxembourish)
• Macedonian: chaj (pronounced chai)
• Malay: teh
• Maltese: te
• Norwegian: te
• Persian: chay (pronounced chai in most areas)
• Polish: herbata  (mix of Latin herba + chinese tea)
• Portuguese: cha (pronounced shah with a Brazilian accent)
• Romanian: ceai
• Russian: chai
• Serbian: caj (pronounced chai)
• Sinhalese (Sri Lanka): thé (The word for teapot is actually a Dutch loanword. It is theepot.)
• Slovakian: caj (pronounced chai)
• Slovenian: caj (pronounced chai)
• Somali: shaah
• Spanish: el té (masculine; pronounced tay)
• Swahili: chai (pronounced cha-i)
• Swedish: te
• Taiwanese: de (boba naicha refers to Taiwan; popular "tapioca pearl tea")
• Tamil (Sri Lanka): tea
• Thai: chah (chah yen refers to Thai iced tea)
• Tibetan: cha or ja
• Turkish: cay (pronounced chai)
• Ukrainian: chaj (pronounced chay)
• Urdu: chai
• (North) Vietnamese: che
• (South) Vietnamese: tra (sometimes pronounced cha or ja)
• Wolof: achai (pronounced uh-chuy)
• Welsh: te
• Yiddish: tey
• Zulu: itiye

Pronunciations of "Tea" Around the World

The root words for "tea" can be traced back to China, where it was called “cha” or “tay.” Today, most words for tea sound something like cha/chai or tea/té/te.

• Cha: The word "cha" is used for tea in the following languages: Bengali/Bangla, Cantonese, Korean, Sinhalese, and Tibetan. Variations on "cha" include Mandarin (in which cha is pronounced with the a in a rising tone), Somali (shaah), Thai (chah), Tibetan (in which cha is sometimes pronounced ja), North Vietnamese (che) and South Vietnamese (in which tra is sometimes pronounced cha or ja).
• Chai: Languages that pronounce tea as "chai": Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bulgarian, Hindi, Macedonian, Persian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Turkish and Urdu. Languages with variations on "chai" include similar pronunciations Arabic (shai), Croatian (chai), Czech (cha-i), Georgian (châi), Greek (tsai), Romanian (ceai), Serbian (chai), Swahili (cha-i), Thai (chah), Ukrainian (chay) and Wolof (achai).
• Tea: The word tea is used in Basque, English, Hungarian (in which the plural of tea is teak) and Tamil. Variations of the word tea include tee (Afrikaans and Finnish), thee (Dutch), teo (Esperanto) and der Tee (German).
• Té: Té is the word for tea in Catalan, Galician and Haitian Creole. Variation of this word for tea includes le thé (French), tae (Irish), teja (pronounced tay-ya; Latvian), Téi (Luxembourgish), la té (pronounced tay; Spanish) and tey (Yiddish).
• Te: Te (pronounced teh) is the word for tea in Armenian, Danish, Italian, Icelandic, Maltese, Norwegian, Swedish and Welsh. The word for tea is teh in Hebrew, Indonesian and Malay.

author: Lindsey Goodwin  (Tea Expert)

Lindsey Goodwin is a food writer and tea consultant with more than 12 years of experience exploring tea production and culture.

source: https://www.liveabout.com/words-for-tea-around-the-world-765841