11.07.2009Oregon Chai Helps Get CHAI in Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary

More than three years ago, Oregon Chai, the company that spearheaded the phenomenal growth of the chai tea category, launched a campaign to get the word chai in the dictionary. The company is proud to announce that chai has found its way from ancient times, through the Himalayas, into American coffee shops, and onto page 204 of the Eleventh Edition of Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary, just released in November.

“As the leader in the chai tea category, Oregon Chai has played a central role in getting the word out about chai. It’s only appropriate that we help get the word chai into the dictionary,” said Ted Wentzel, director of marketing for Oregon Chai. “The inclusion further proves that chai is finding its way into more and more cups and conversations across America.”

During the campaign chai fans were able to make their voices heard by either filling out a postcard found at their favorite coffee shops in select cities or logging onto www.oregonchai.com. Chai drinkers chimed in from every US state, the District of Columbia, Canada, Chile, China, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Mexico and The United Kingdom. Oregon Chai also compiled information to support the campaign including facts about chai sales and the number of times the word appeared in print publications.

James G. Lowe, senior editor at Merriam-Webster, responded to the campaign in writing, “We are greatly impressed by the amount of information you sent us regarding the use of the word chai” He continued, “The information you sent contains more than enough evidence of its assimilation into English. We thank you and all your customers who responded so encouragingly for calling the word chai to our attention.”

The Eleventh Edition of Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary features chai slotted in between the words chagrin and chain and defined as “a beverage that is a blend of black tea, honey, spices and milk.” This entry is fairly close to the definition on Oregon Chai’s website, “A blend of black tea, honey, vanilla, spices and milk, prepared like a latte.” Other drink-related words that were inducted into this edition of the dictionary along with chai include: brain freeze, barista and mai tai.

Mispronunciation of Oregon Chai may result in derisive snickering.

Oregon \or-y-gun\ Chai \eye with a ch in front