Difference between revisions of "Camellia sinensis"

Revision as of 17:07, 12 July 2018

Camellia sinensis, Yabukita cultivar

Camellia sinensis is the species of plant whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce the popular beverage tea.

It is of the genus Camellia a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. White tea, green tea, oolong, pu-erh tea and black tea are all harvested from this species, but are processed differently to attain different levels of oxidation. Kukicha is also harvested from Camellia sinensis, but uses twigs and stems rather than leaves. Common names include tea plant, tea shrub, and tea tree (not to be confused with Melaleuca alternifolia, the source of tea tree oil).

There are two major varieties used for tea, Chinese tea, Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, and Assam tea, Camellia sinensis var. assamica.

Beside this two there is also Camellia sinensis var. pubilimba and Camellia sinensis var. dehungensis. They are also known as Mao Cha (毛茶) and used for Pu-Erh tea. It's unclear whether those two varietal are own species or just a spontaneous hybrid of assamica and sinensis. The same applies for the varietal called "java bush", Camellia sinensis var. parvifolia or Camellia sinensis var. cambodiensis.

Nomenclature and taxonomy

The name Camellia is taken from the Latinized name of Rev. Georg Joseph Kamelref, Society of Jesus (1661–1706), a Czech-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. The name sinensis means from China in Latin.

Description

Camellia sinensis is native to East, South and Southeast Asia, but it is today cultivated across the world in tropical and subtropical regions. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree that is usually trimmed to below 2m when cultivated for its leaves. It has a strong taproot. The flowers are yellow-white, 2.5–4cm in diameter, with 7 to 8 petals.

The seeds of Camellia sinensis and Camellia oleifera can be pressed to yield tea oil, a sweetish seasoning and cooking oil that should not be confused with tea tree oil, an essential oil that is used for medical and cosmetic purposes, and originates from the leaves of a different plant.

Camellia sinensis plant, with cross-section of the flower (lower left) and seeds (lower right).

The leaves are 4–15cm long and 2–5cm broad. Fresh leaves contain about 4% caffeine. The young, light green leaves are preferably harvested for tea production; they have short white hairs on the underside. Older leaves are deeper green. Different leaf ages produce differing tea qualities, since their chemical compositions are different. Usually, the tip (bud) and the first two to three leaves are harvested for processing. This hand picking is repeated every one to two weeks.

Cultivation

Camellia sinensis is mainly cultivated in tropical and subtropical climates, in areas with at least 127 cm. (50 inches) of rainfall a year. However, the clonal one is commercially cultivated from the equator to as far north as Cornwall on the UK mainland. Many high quality teas are grown at high elevations, up to 1500 meters (5,000 ft), as the plants grow more slowly and acquire more flavour.

Tea plants will grow into a tree if left undisturbed, but cultivated plants are pruned to waist height for ease of plucking. Two principal varieties are used, the small-leaved Chinese variety plant (C. sinensis sinensis) and the large-leaved Assamese plant (C. sinensis assamica), used mainly for black tea.

Indian teas

There are three main kinds of tea produced in India:

Assam tea comes from the northeastern section of the country. This heavily forested region is home to much wildlife, including the rhinoceros. Tea from here is rich and full-bodied. It was in Assam that the first tea estate was established, in 1837.

Darjeeling – the Darjeeling region is cool and wet, and tucked in the foothills of the Himalayas. The tea is delicately flavored, and considered to be one of the finest teas in the world. The Darjeeling plantations have 3 distinct harvests, termed 'flushes', and the tea produced from each flush has a unique flavor. First (spring) flush teas are light and aromatic, while the second (summer) flush produces tea with a bit more bite. The third, or autumn flush gives a tea that is lesser in quality.

Nilgiri tea comes from an even higher part of India than Darjeeling. This southern Indian region has elevations between 1,000 and 2,500 metres. The flavors of Nilgiri teas are subtle and rather gentle. They are frequently blended with other, more robust teas.

Seed bearing fruit of Camellia sinensis

Chinese teas

The Chinese plant (sometimes called C. sinensis var. sinensis) is a small-leaved bush with multiple stems that reaches a height of some 3 meters. It is native to southeast China. The first tea plant to be discovered, recorded and used to produce tea three thousand years ago, it yields some of the most popular teas.

Health effects

The leaves have been used in traditional Chinese medicine and other medical systems to treat asthma (functioning as a bronchodilator), angina pectoris, peripheral vascular disease, and coronary artery disease.

Recent medical research on tea (most of which has been on green tea) has revealed various health benefits, including anti-cancer potential, effects on cholesterol levels, antibacterial properties and positive effects for weight loss. It is considered to have many positive health benefits due to tea's high levels of catechins, a type of antioxidant.

However, tea may have some negative impacts on health, such as over-consumption of caffeine, and the presence of flouride and oxalates in tea.

External links

Plant Cultures: botany and history of the tea plant
Jac.OxfordJournals.org, The effect of a component of tea (Camellia sinensis) on methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+[[File:Yabukita-close.jpg|thumb|Camellia sinensis, Yabukita cultivar]]
 '''''Camellia sinensis''''' is the species of plant whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce the popular beverage [[tea]].
-It is of the genus ''[[Camellia]]'' a genus of flowering plants in the family [[Theaceae]]. [[White tea]], [[green tea]], [[oolong]], [[pu-erh tea]] and [[black tea]] are all harvested from this species, but are processed differently to attain different levels of [[oxidation]]. [[Kukicha]] is also harvested from ''Camellia sinensis'', but uses twigs and stems rather than leaves. Common names include tea plant, tea shrub, and tea tree (not to be confused with ''Melaleuca alternifolia'', the source of tea tree oil).
+It is of the genus ''Camellia'' a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. [[White tea]], [[green tea]], [[oolong]], [[pu-erh tea]] and [[black tea]] are all harvested from this species, but are processed differently to attain different levels of [[oxidation]]. [[Kukicha]] is also harvested from ''Camellia sinensis'', but uses twigs and stems rather than leaves. Common names include tea plant, tea shrub, and tea tree (not to be confused with ''Melaleuca alternifolia'', the source of tea tree oil).
 There are two major varieties used for tea, Chinese tea, ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''sinensis'', and Assam tea, ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''assamica''.
+Beside this two there is also ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''pubilimba'' and ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''dehungensis''. They are also known as Mao Cha (毛茶) and used for Pu-Erh tea. It's unclear whether those two varietal are own species or just a spontaneous hybrid of assamica and sinensis. The same applies for the varietal called "java bush", ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''parvifolia'' or ''Camellia sinensis'' var. ''cambodiensis''.
 ==Nomenclature and taxonomy==
-The name ''Camellia'' is taken from the Latinized name of Rev. Georg Joseph Kamelref, Society of Jesus (1661–1706), a Czech-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''. Robert Sweet /code/tokyo-e/Art_13.htm | quote = The generic names ''Thea'' L. (Sp. Pl.: 515. 24 Mai 1753), and ''Camellia'' L. The name ''sinensis'' means ''from China'' in Latin.
+The name ''Camellia'' is taken from the Latinized name of Rev. Georg Joseph Kamelref, Society of Jesus (1661–1706), a Czech-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''. The name ''sinensis'' means ''from China'' in Latin.
-Four varieties of ''Camellia sinensis'' are recognized Of these, ''C. sinensis'' var. ''sinensis'' and ''C. sinensis'' var. ''assamica'' (JW Masters) Kitamura are most commonly used for tea, and ''C. sinensis'' var. ''pubilimba'' Hung T. Chang and ''C. sinensis'' var. ''dehungensis'' (Hung T. Chang & BH Chen) TL Ming are sometimes used locally.
-==List of the cultivars==
-* Benifuuki
-* Fushun
-* Kanayamidori
-* Meiryoku
-* Saemidori
-* Okumidori
-* Turkey's Black Tea
-* Yabukita
-* Uji Hikari — a premium tea cultivar developed in Kyoto for producing matcha tea.
-* Gokou — developed especially for the climate of the Kyoto region and for producing matcha tea.
-* Zairai — term in Japan used to refer to a field that does not consist of a specific cultivar.
 ==Description==
-''Camellia sinensis'' is native to [[East Asia|East]], [[South Asia|South]] and [[Southeast Asia]], but it is today cultivated across the world in tropical and subtropical regions. It is an evergreen [[shrub]] or small [[tree]] that is usually trimmed to below {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on}} when cultivated for its leaves. It has a strong [[taproot]]. The flowers are yellow-white, {{convert|2.5|–|4|cm|in|abbr=on}} in diameter, with 7 to 8 petals.
+''Camellia sinensis'' is native to East, South and Southeast Asia, but it is today cultivated across the world in tropical and subtropical regions. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree that is usually trimmed to below 2m when cultivated for its leaves. It has a strong taproot. The flowers are yellow-white, 2.5–4cm in diameter, with 7 to 8 petals.
-The seeds of ''Camellia sinensis'' and ''[[Camellia oleifera]]'' can be pressed to yield [[tea oil]], a sweetish seasoning and cooking oil that should not be confused with [[tea tree oil]], an [[essential oil]] that is used for medical and cosmetic purposes, and originates from the leaves of a different plant.
+The seeds of ''Camellia sinensis'' and ''Camellia oleifera'' can be pressed to yield [[tea oil]], a sweetish seasoning and cooking oil that should not be confused with tea tree oil, an essential oil that is used for medical and cosmetic purposes, and originates from the leaves of a different plant.
 [[File:Camellia_sinensis_-_Köhler–s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-025.jpg|left|thumb|''Camellia sinensis'' plant, with cross-section of the flower (lower left) and seeds (lower right).]]
-The leaves are {{convert|4|–|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|2|–|5|cm|in|abbr=on}} broad. Fresh leaves contain about 4% [[caffeine]].<ref>{{cite web| publisher = Purdue | url= http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Camellia_sinensis.html |title=Camellia sinensis |accessdate=18 February 2008}}</ref> The young, light green leaves are preferably harvested for tea production; they have short white hairs on the underside. Older leaves are deeper green. Different leaf ages produce differing tea qualities, since their chemical compositions are different. Usually, the tip (bud) and the first two to three leaves are harvested for processing. This hand picking is repeated every one to two weeks.
+The leaves are 4–15cm long and 2–5cm broad. Fresh leaves contain about 4% [[caffeine]]. The young, light green leaves are preferably harvested for tea production; they have short white hairs on the underside. Older leaves are deeper green. Different leaf ages produce differing tea qualities, since their chemical compositions are different. Usually, the tip (bud) and the first two to three leaves are harvested for processing. This hand picking is repeated every one to two weeks.
 ==Cultivation==
-{{Main|tea#Cultivation and harvesting|l1=Tea cultivation}}
-''Camellia sinensis'' is mainly cultivated in tropical and subtropical climates, in areas with at least 127&nbsp;cm. (50&nbsp;inches) of rainfall a year. However, the clonal one is commercially cultivated from the equator to as far north as [[Cornwall]] on the UK mainland.<ref>{{Citation | publisher = Telegraph Online | date = 17 September 2005 | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/main.jhtml?xml=/gardening/2005/09/17/gtea17.xml | title = Gardening | contribution = Tea}}.</ref> Many high quality teas are grown at high elevations, up to 1500 meters (5,000&nbsp;ft), as the plants grow more slowly and acquire more flavour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://teahorse.co.uk/info/where-tea-grows/ |title=Where Tea Grows |publisher=teahorse.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2012-06-19}}</ref>
+''Camellia sinensis'' is mainly cultivated in tropical and subtropical climates, in areas with at least 127&nbsp;cm. (50&nbsp;inches) of rainfall a year. However, the clonal one is commercially cultivated from the equator to as far north as Cornwall on the UK mainland. Many high quality teas are grown at high elevations, up to 1500 meters (5,000&nbsp;ft), as the plants grow more slowly and acquire more flavour.
 Tea plants will grow into a tree if left undisturbed, but cultivated plants are pruned to waist height for ease of plucking. Two principal varieties are used, the small-leaved Chinese variety plant (''C. sinensis sinensis'') and the large-leaved Assamese plant (''C. sinensis assamica''), used mainly for black tea.
@@ Line 43: / Line 30: @@
 There are three main kinds of tea produced in India:
-[[Assam tea|Assam]] tea comes from the northeastern section of the country. This heavily forested region is home to much wildlife, including the [[rhinoceros]]. Tea from here is rich and full-bodied. It was in Assam that the first tea estate was established, in 1837.
+[[Assam]] tea comes from the northeastern section of the country. This heavily forested region is home to much wildlife, including the rhinoceros. Tea from here is rich and full-bodied. It was in Assam that the first tea estate was established, in 1837.
-[[Darjeeling tea|Darjeeling]] – the [[Darjeeling]] region is cool and wet, and tucked in the foothills of the [[Himalayas]]. The tea is delicately flavored, and considered to be one of the finest teas in the world. The Darjeeling plantations have 3 distinct harvests, termed 'flushes', and the tea produced from each flush has a unique flavor. First (spring) flush teas are light and aromatic, while the second (summer) flush produces tea with a bit more bite. The third, or autumn flush gives a tea that is lesser in quality.
+[[Darjeeling]] – the Darjeeling region is cool and wet, and tucked in the foothills of the Himalayas. The tea is delicately flavored, and considered to be one of the finest teas in the world. The Darjeeling plantations have 3 distinct harvests, termed 'flushes', and the tea produced from each flush has a unique flavor. First (spring) flush teas are light and aromatic, while the second (summer) flush produces tea with a bit more bite. The third, or autumn flush gives a tea that is lesser in quality.
-[[Nilgiri tea|Nilgiri]] tea comes from an even higher part of India than Darjeeling. This southern Indian region has elevations between 1,000 and 2,500 metres. The flavors of Nilgiri teas are subtle and rather gentle. They are frequently blended with other, more robust teas.
+[[Nilgiri]] tea comes from an even higher part of India than Darjeeling. This southern Indian region has elevations between 1,000 and 2,500 metres. The flavors of Nilgiri teas are subtle and rather gentle. They are frequently blended with other, more robust teas.
 [[File:Camellia sinensis-fruto.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Seed bearing fruit of ''Camellia sinensis'']]
@@ Line 53: / Line 40: @@
 The Chinese plant (sometimes called ''C. sinensis'' var. ''sinensis'') is a small-leaved bush with multiple stems that reaches a height of some 3 meters. It is native to southeast China. The first tea plant to be discovered, recorded and used to produce tea three thousand years ago, it yields some of the most popular teas.
-''C. sinensis'' var. ''waldenae'' was considered a different species, ''Camellia waldenae'' by SY Hu,<ref name="ICS">{{Citation | url = http://www.uniklinik-saarland.de/med_fak/physiol2/camellia/register/species/spec_rs.htm | publisher = Uniklinik Sårland | place = DE | title = The International Camellia Society (ICS)}}.{{dead link|date=February 2012}}</ref> but it was later identified as a variety of ''C. sinensis''.<ref>{{Citation | last = Ming | first = TL | year = 1992 | contribution = A revision of Camellia sect. Thea | journal = Acta Botanica Yunnanica | volume = 14 | issue = 2 | pages = 115–32 | language = Chinese}}.</ref> This variety is commonly called '''Waldenae Camellia'''. It is seen on [[Sunset Peak (Hong Kong)|Sunset Peak]] and [[Tai Mo Shan]] in [[Hong Kong]]. It is also distributed in [[Guangxi]] Province, [[People's Republic of China|China]].<ref name="ICS" />
+==Health effects==
-===Pests and diseases===
+The leaves have been used in traditional Chinese medicine and other medical systems to treat asthma (functioning as a bronchodilator), angina pectoris, peripheral vascular disease, and coronary artery disease.
-{{Main|List of tea diseases}}
-{{See also|List of Lepidoptera that feed on Camellia}}
-Tea leaves are eaten by some [[herbivore]]s, like the [[caterpillar]]s of the [[willow beauty]] (''Peribatodes rhomboidaria''), a [[geometer moth]].
-==Localization of Caffeine==
+Recent medical research on tea (most of which has been on green tea) has revealed various health benefits, including anti-cancer potential, effects on cholesterol levels, antibacterial properties and positive effects for weight loss. It is considered to have many positive health benefits due to tea's high levels of [[catechins]], a type of [[antioxidant]].
-Caffeine has been localized to the vascular bundles of ''C. sinensis'' leaves using immunohistochemical methods and confocal scanning laser microscopy. The precursor phloem was suggested to be the main area of accumulation but caffeine was determined to be present within the precursor xylem. It was hypothesized that caffeine is synthesized within the chloroplasts of photosynthetic cells and transported to the vascular bundles where it acts as a chemical defense against various pathogens and predators. <ref>Van Breda, S. V., van der Merwe, C. F., Robbertse, H., & Apostolides, Z. (2012). Immunohistochemical localization of caffeine in young Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze (tea) leaves. Planta, 1-10,(DOI) 10.1007/s00425-012-1804-x.</ref>
-==Health effects==
-{{Main|Health effects of tea}}
-The leaves have been used in [[traditional Chinese medicine]] and other medical systems to treat [[asthma]] (functioning as a [[bronchodilator]]), [[angina pectoris]], [[peripheral vascular disease]], and [[coronary artery disease]].
-Recent medical research on tea (most of which has been on green tea) has revealed various health benefits, including anti-cancer potential, effects on cholesterol levels, antibacterial properties and positive effects for weight loss.<ref>{{cite web|title=Quick Sprints can Cut Abdominal Fat in Men|url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/healthreport/quick-sprints-can-cut-abdominal-fat-in-men/4105008#transcript|accessdate=10 October 2012}}</ref> It is considered to have many positive health benefits due to tea's high levels of [[catechins]], a type of [[antioxidant]].
 However, tea may have some negative impacts on health, such as over-consumption of [[caffeine]], and the presence of flouride and oxalates in tea.
-==See also==
-* [[Green tea extract]]
-* [[International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants]]
-* [[ISO 3103]], a method of brewing tea according to the International Organization for Standardization
-* [[List of tea companies]]
-* [[Tasseography]], a method of [[divination]] by reading tea leaves.
-* [[Tea Classics]]
-* [[Tea production in Sri Lanka]]
 ==External links==
-* [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Camellia_sinensis.html ''Camellia sinensis''] from [[Purdue University]]
+* Plant Cultures: [http://www.plantcultures.org.uk/plants/tea_landing.html botany and history of the tea plant]
-*Plant Cultures: [http://www.plantcultures.org.uk/plants/tea_landing.html botany and history of the tea plant]
-* Antibacterial Activity of Green Tea Extracts against Streptococcus anginosus group [http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/10017425510/en/ CI.NII.AC.jp]
 * [http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/42/2/211 Jac.OxfordJournals.org], The effect of a component of tea (Camellia sinensis) on methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus.
-*[http://sun.ars-grin.gov:8080/npgspub/xsql/duke/plantdisp.xsql?taxon=198 Suns.Ars-Grin.gov], List of Chemicals in ''Camellia sinensis'' (Dr. Duke's Databases)
 [[Category:Tea]]
-[[Category:Camellia|sinensis]]
 [[de:Camellia sinensis]]
 [[es:Camellia sinensis]]