Key Facts

• "Tea" as a slang term means gossip or news about what's happening.
• The term originated in Black gay culture, as described in a 1991 book by anthropologist William G. Hawkeswood.
• The word has been explained as early as the 1970s, with roots in Southern Black communities.
• "Tea" has a long history, with the drink itself originating from East Asia.
• The slang usage became widely popular due to a meme featuring Kermit the Frog sipping tea.
• The Kermit meme started around 2014 and was often used for making snide or humorous comments online.