What Plant Does Tea Come From?
Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, consumed regularly by billions of people across the globe. But, did you ever wonder what plant does tea come from?
The Camellia Sinensis Plant
All tea comes from one plant: the Camellia Sinensis plant. This plant is native to India and China, and is mostly found in tropical and subtropical climates. The leaves of the Camellia Sinensis are used to make different kinds of tea, including black tea, white tea, oolong tea, green tea and other types of tea.
Three Main Varieties
Within the Camellia Sinensis plant, there are three main varieties:
- CameLLIA SINENSIS VAR. SINENSIS: This variety is mainly found in China and produces small, narrow leaves. It is used to make green teas, yellow teas and white teas.
- CAMELLIA SINENSIS VAR. ASSAMICA: This variety is mainly found in India and produces larger, broader leaves. It is used to make black teas and oolong teas.
- CAMELLIA SINENSIS VAR. DEHONGENSIS: This variety is mainly found in other parts of Asia and produced larger, broader leaves. It is used to make pu’erh teas.
The type of tea you drink depends not only on the variety of the plant, but also on the way the tea is processed – the leaves are either steamed, roasted, pan-fired or withered before being dried and packaged for sale.
Growing The Camellia Sinensis Plant
The Camellia Sinensis plant is rather hardy and can easily be grown in a wide range of environments, from warm to cool, from moist to dry. The key to successful cultivation of the Camellia Sinensis plant is having the correct soil and water conditions.
The Camellia Sinensis plant has small white flowers that bloom in the spring and the leaves are usually ready to be harvested within 2-4 months after the plant flowers.
Conclusion
Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and it all comes from the same plant – the Camellia Sinensis plant. This plant has three main varieties, and the type of tea you drink depends on the variety of the plant and how the tea is processed. Growing the Camellia Sinensis plant is not difficult, as long as you have the right soil and water conditions.
