Indian tea
/ˌɪndɪən ˈtiː/noun
1 North American. Any several North American shrubs whose leaves can be used to make a drink resembling tea; especially yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) or Labrador tea (genus Ledum).
2Tea grown in India or Sri Lanka, especially black tea from Assam or the Darjeeling district.
- In early use also with reference to tea grown in China: see note at Indian..
Origin
Early 18th century; earliest use found in John Lawson (d. 1711), surveyor. From Indian + tea.