
See more
Nov 15, 2021 · Camellia sinensis is part of the evergreen family. The leaves are glossy green with serrated edges. When allowed to flower (flowering is prevented during cultivation by harvesting the leaves, forcing the plant to constantly make more buds) the plant produces small white flowers with bright yellow stamens. How do you identify a Camellia sinensis?
Is Camellia sinensis the same as green tea?
What is green tea? Green tea is one form of tea from the Camellia sinensis plant. This is the same plant used for other types of tea, such as black, white, and oolong tea. For green tea, manufacturers harvest the tea leaves and quickly heat them.Apr 27, 2021
What do Camellia leaves look like?
Camellia leaves tend to be deep green, narrow ovals with serrated edges and pointed tips, though there are variations in length and texture. The plants are all evergreens, so their leaves should be available to examine any time.
Is Camellia sinensis the same as chamomile?
Although we use the word tea in such expressions as “chamomile tea” or “cinnamon tea” to refer to herbal tea drinks or fruit teas, tea (black tea or green tea for example) is exclusively produced from the leaves and buds of one plant: the Camellia Sinensis, of the genus Camellia.Feb 16, 2021
Is Camellia sinensis the only tea plant?
Camellia sinensis is a species of evergreen shrubs or small trees in the flowering plant family Theaceae. Its leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea....Camellia sinensisClade:AsteridsOrder:EricalesFamily:TheaceaeGenus:Camellia17 more rows
How do you identify a camellia plant?
The camellia is a densely foliated evergreen shrub or small tree. The simple, dark green, leathery leaves have an alternate to whorled arrangement with serrate margins. Attractive flowers appear on the ends of branches in fall or winter and are solitary or clustered. They may possess few or many petals and stamens.
Do camellias like tea?
I always save my used tea leaves/left over tea and coffee grounds to put around my camellias. These break down and condition the soil and also help to maintain the right slightly acid pH level.Mar 10, 2013
What is Camellia sinensis good for?
Camellia sinensis (green tea) contains caffeine and antioxidant polyphenols. It has been touted as being useful in a wide variety of conditions, including cancer prevention, mostly on relatively slim epidemiological evidence [1], cardiovascular disorders, and AIDS.
What is the common name of Camellia sinensis?
teaIntegrated Taxonomic Information System - ReportThea sinensis L.Thea viridis L.Camellia sinensis var. sinensis (L.) KuntzeCamellia sinensis var. assamica (J.W. Mast.) Kitam.Common Name(s):tea [English]13 more rows
Whats the best tea for a sore throat?
What Are the Best Teas for Sore Throats?Licorice Root Tea. Licorice root tea contains both antiviral and antimicrobial properties, which can help fight off the illnesses that cause sore throats. ... Chamomile Tea. ... Turmeric Tea. ... Green Tea. ... Peppermint Tea. ... Marshmallow Root Tea. ... Lemon Tea. ... Slippery Elm Tea.More items...
What does tea tree plant look like?
Leptospermum scoparium (Tea Tree) is an upright evergreen shrub with small, aromatic (when crushed), needle-like leaves and showy flowers in late spring and summer. Borne along the stems, the blooms may be single or double, in shades of red, pink or white depending on the varieties.
Which of the following tea contains Camellia sinensis?
sinensis when used in medicinal studies. Teas made using the leaves of this plant are known as true teas. These include white tea, green tea, oolong tea, and black tea. The Camellia sinensis tea plant is an evergreen shrub belonging to the flowering plant family Theaceae.Oct 2, 2020
What teas are not made from the Camellia sinensis plant?
“Herbal teas” are not from the Camellia sinensis plant and because of this the vast majority of them are caffeine free. These include chamomile, rooibos, ginger, hibiscus, fruit tisanes, and other non-camellia sinensis beverages that are steeped similar to tea.
Varieties of Tea Plants
Two primary varieties of tea plants are responsible for the bulk of tea production in the world today. These are Camellia sinensis var. sinensis that originated in China (also referred to as China bush) and Camellia sinensis var. assamica that originated in the Assam region of India (also called Assam bush).
From Harvest to Export
Before Westerners knew much about tea besides the fact they liked to drink it, they thought that black tea came from one variety of tea plant and green tea from another. We've learned a lot in the intervening years to know that's not true—all true teas are made from Camellia sinensis.
Let It Steep
So you see, there are a lot of facts about tea to absorb. Some involve technical information; most of the complexity stems from the fact that there are so many nuances to tea.
What is Camellia sinensis leaf extract?
The bottom line. Camellia sinensis leaf extract is the oil obtained from the leaves of tea plants. It’s rich in bioactive compounds, such as catechins, L-theanine, and caffeine, and studies have linked it to multiple beneficial effects.
Where does L-theanine come from?
L-theanine is a non-protein amino acid derived from the tea plant. It’s the most abundant amino acid in green tea, comprising about half of its amino acid content ( 15#N#Trusted Source#N#).
What is leaf extract?
The leaf extract is the oil from its leaves ( 1. ). Camellia sinensis or tea leaf extract has gained popularity given the multiple health benefits of tea, especially those of green tea. The extract provides the plant’s beneficial compounds in a concentrated form, which you can make at home or buy as a supplement.
Does L-theanine help with cholesterol?
Their catechin and L-theanine contents may help lower risk factors for heart disease, including: Blood cholesterol and triglycerides. Studies suggest that the extract may reduce levels of total and LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides by reducing their absorption ( 1. Trusted Source.
Does Camellia sinensis help with weight loss?
Studies show that both the EGCG and caffeine in Camellia sinensis leaf extract may help increase weight loss ( 45. Trusted Source. ). EGCG may promote weight loss by inhibiting enzymes that cause the body to absorb and digest carbs and fat from the gut. This may help lower energy intake ( 23.
What is tea plant?
The tea plant is an evergreen shrub that provides us with black, white, yellow, and green tea as well as oolong and pu-erh tea. It is the leaves and leaf buds that are commonly used to produce the teas we enjoy.
What are tea leaves?
Leaves. The tea plant’s leaves are dark green with serrated edges, and a pointed tip. They are somewhat oval in shape and alternate. Most leaves tend to have a hairy underside and they usually grow to between 5 and 10 centimetres in length.
How many petals does a flower have?
They grow up to 4cm in diametre with five sepals and can have 5-9 petals.
Where does tea grow?
It grows in many parts of Asia, Eastern Africa and Argentina. It prefers light sandy soils and medium loamy soils that are well-drained. The tea plant is also cultivated in some areas of the U.S.
Is tea a tree or a shrub?
Although the tea plant is most often referred to as being an evergreen shrub, when left in the wild undisturbed it grows into a tree with a bowl-shaped canopy. The bark is rough and typically grey. The tea plant branches with alternate elliptical leaves that are leathery in texture.
When do camellias bloom?
The camellia group ( Camellia spp.) features over 260 species, some of which bloom as early as October. Look for most flowers to appear in December or January and enjoy their colors through April. C. japonica is a common species with evergreen foliage and white, pink, red, yellow or lavender flowers. C. sasanqua blooms in mid-fall ...
What is Taylor's perfect camellia?
Taylor’s Perfection camellia. The lovely waxen flowers of a camellia bush are a symbol of southern elegance. Alabama even chose camellias for the state flower. Camellias have a reputation for being somewhat difficult to grow, but if you’re willing to meet their needs, they’ll reward you with a long bloom season just when you need it most, ...
What is the best shade for a garden?
Morning sun and dappled afternoon shade are ideal. As the plants grow older, their own heavy foliage will provide protection from the sun for the roots. Check out 11 easy-to-grow plants to add color to your shade garden.
Where does Jill live?
Jill lives in Tampa, Florida, and writes about gardening, butterflies, outdoor projects and birding. When she's not gardening, you'll find he reading, traveling and happily digging her toes into the sand on the beach.
What happens if you plant a plant too deep?
If they’re planted too deeply or mulched too heavily, the stems can rot and kill the plant. Dig the planting hole the same depth as the root ball, then add a few inches of soil back into the hole to slightly decrease the depth.

Overview
Camellia sinensis is a species of evergreen shrubs or small trees in the flowering plant family Theaceae. Its leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea. Common names include "tea plant", "tea shrub", and "tea tree" (not to be confused with Melaleuca alternifolia, the source of tea tree oil, or Leptospermum scoparium, the New Zealand tea tree).
White tea, yellow tea, green tea, oolong, dark tea (which includes pu-erh tea) and black teaare all ha…
Nomenclature and taxonomy
The generic name Camellia is taken from the Latinized name of Rev. Georg Kamel, SJ (1661–1706), a Moravian-born Jesuit lay brother, pharmacist, and missionary to the Philippines.
Carl Linnaeus chose his name in 1753 for the genus to honor Kamel's contributions to botany (although Kamel did not discover or name this plant, or any Camellia, and Linnaeus did not consider this plant a Camellia but a Thea).
Cultivars
Hundreds, if not thousands of cultivars of C. sinensis are known. Some Japanese cultivars include:
• Benifuuki
• Fushun
• Kanayamidori
• Meiryoku
Description
C. sinensis is native to East Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, and Southeast Asia, but it is today cultivated all around the world in tropical and subtropical regions. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree that is usually trimmed to below 2 m (6.6 ft) when cultivated for its leaves. It has a strong taproot. The flowers are yellow-white, 2.5–4 cm (0.98–1.57 in) in diameter, with seven or eight petals.
Cultivation
C. sinensis is mainly cultivated in tropical and subtropical climates, in areas with at least 127 cm (50 in) of rainfall a year. Tea plants prefer a rich and moist growing location in full to part sun, and can be grown in hardiness zones 7 – 9. However, the clonal one is commercially cultivated from the equator to as far north as Cornwall and Scotlandon the UK mainland. Many high quality teas are grown at high elevations, up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft), as the plants grow more slowly and acquire m…
Health effects
Although health benefits have been assumed throughout the history of using tea as a common beverage, no high-quality evidence shows that tea confers significant benefits. In clinical research over the early 21st century, tea has been studied extensively for its potential to lower the risk of human diseases, but none of this research is conclusive as of 2017.
Biosynthesis of caffeine
Caffeine, a molecule produced in C. sinensis, functions as a secondary metabolite and acts as a natural pesticide: it can paralyze and kill predator insects feeding on the plant. Caffeine is a purine alkaloid and its biosynthesis occurs in young tea leaves and is regulated by several enzymes. The biosynthetic pathway in C. sinensis differs from other caffeine-producing plants such as coffee or guayusa. Analysis of the pathway was carried out by harvesting young leaves and using reverse …
See also
• Chinese herbology
• Green tea extract
• International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants
• ISO 3103, a method of brewing tea according to the ISO