The Tea Plant – Camellia sinensis

Camellias

Camellia sinensis is a species of the Camellia genus in the tea family (Theaceae). There are over 200 species in the Camellia genus, and thousands of cultivars. Many are grown as ornamental plants, while seeds from a few — including Camellia sinensis — are used to produce edible tea oil.

However, the tea tree oil used in cosmetics comes from a completely different plant — Melaleuca alternifolia, which belongs to the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), not the tea plant.

Camellias are evergreen shrubs or small trees that grow best in tropical and subtropical climates. Some varieties can survive temperatures as low as –15°C.

Two Species Used for Tea

Tea is made from two species of the Camellia genus:

• Camellia sinensis (the main one)

• Camellia taliensis (used more rarely)

Camellia taliensis grows in southwestern Yunnan, China, and nearby border regions. While it is a true tea plant, most tea worldwide is made from Camellia sinensis, which is why the word “tea” usually refers to this species.

All True Tea Comes from Camellia sinensis

Black, green, white, yellow, oolong, and dark teas – all are made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis.

Sinensis vs. Assamica – What’s the Difference?

• Camellia sinensis var. sinensis:
   Smaller leaves, more delicate and complex flavors. Grown mainly in cooler, high-altitude regions — most common in China and  Himalaya – Darjeeling and Kalimpong .

• Camellia sinensis var. assamica:
   Larger leaves, bold, full-bodied taste. Prefers warmer, lower-altitude climates. Most commonly grown in India and Sri Lanka — famous for black tea.

Teas made from assamica tend to be more affordable because the plants produce larger yields and are often harvested multiple times a year — up to 8 harvests annually. In contrast, high-mountain teas from the sinensis variety are usually picked only once a year and are considered more premium.

While these two varieties differ, the distinction isn’t always obvious — some sinensis cultivars have larger leaves, and some assamica cultivars have smaller ones. In the end, flavor depends not only on the variety but also on every step of processing — from harvest to your cup.

The names come from their origins:

• Sinensis means “from China”

• Assamica means “from Assam,” a state in India — though some researchers believe assamica may have originated in southwest China.

From Bushes to Ancient Trees

Camellia sinensis most commonly grows as a shrub. In tea gardens, the shrubs are pruned once a year to make harvesting easier. They begin to yield harvests in the third year after planting and remain productive for at least 30 years, and much longer under suitable conditions.

In the wild, however, Camellia sinensis can grow into tall trees and live for hundreds of years. The oldest tea forests are found in Yunnan, China — with trees estimated to be between 100 and 800 years old. Some individual trees are believed to be even older. Leaves from these ancient trees are typically used to produce pu-erh tea. In fact, the age of the tree is directly linked to the tea’s value — the older the tree, the more prized (and more expensive) the resulting tea

In this region, there are also several individual tea trees believed to be around 2,000 years old — the oldest one is said to be 3,200 years old (shown in the photo).  However, this is Camellia taliensis – a species of the Camellia genus mentioned earlier, which is also used to produce tea, though in comparatively smaller quantities.

Where do Tea Plants Grow Today?

The natural growing area of Camellia sinensis is considered to be southwestern China and the surrounding border regions. Nowadays, tea is cultivated in at least 40 countries around the world, even in the United Kingdom – Scotland. Scotland is currently the northernmost location where Camellia sinensis is commercially cultivated.

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