We always talk about black tea , green tea , white tea, and blue tea , but what's behind all these names? The answer is simple: Camellia Sinensis. Its leaves are bright green with closed edges. When the plant is allowed to flower, it produces small white flowers with bright yellow stamens. However, flowering is usually prevented during cultivation by harvesting the leaves, which forces the plant to constantly produce more shoots.

The fruit that develops during flowering has a hard green shell with round brown seeds, which can be used to make tea tree oil.

The Camellia sinensis exists in three varieties, and two types of this plant are used for making tea, while the third is not normally used in tea cultivation.

The Camellia sinensis plant is from China and is generally used to make green teas and white teas , but this variety is also used for black teas and oolong teas .

Camellia sinensis assamica is native to the Assam region of India. This plant is commonly used for black tea, and also for pu'erh tea in Yunnan Province (China), where ancient tea trees belonging to the assamica variety can be found.

The third variety is Camellia sinensis cambodiensis, also known as the "Java Bush." Many tea varieties have been bred and crossed to achieve certain traits in other crops. The "Java Bush" variety is not typically used in commercial tea production, and today there are approximately 1,500 varieties derived from the two main varieties.

Camellia sinensis sinensis (China)

The Camellia sinensis sinensis plant from China grows best in cool temperatures on steep mountain slopes, at altitudes up to 3,125 meters, due to the climate and altitude. The Chinese plant typically grows between 1.5 and 4.5 meters tall, but in the case of wild plants, the leaves can reach up to 5 cm in length.

The seasons in the mountains are shorter, and growth is impacted. It produces a smaller harvest, but with more tender leaves, which produce a sweet, less astringent cup.

The Chinese plant is typically pruned from the waist up, allowing for easier harvesting and new growth, but due to the climate, the growing season is at most half the year, and the plant generally produces no more than five pluckings in a year.

The Chinese plant is dormant during the winters because during that time the plant stores its energy and nutrients for the first "flush," which is among the finest teas on earth with the highest concentration of desirable flavors and essential elements that provide the tea's health benefits.

Camellia Sinensis assamica (Assam, India)

Camellia sinensis assamica is originally from the Assam region of eastern India as the high humidity combined with generous rainfall and warm temperatures allow this variety to grow larger and thus create and thrive a more robust tea.

The assamica plant grows between 9 and 18 meters if left untended and produces much larger leaves (up to 20 cm). Under perfect conditions with proper fertilization, the assamica plant can be harvested every 8 to 12 days throughout the year, and due to its enormous yields, it is the preferred variety in northeast India, Sri Lanka, and Africa.

Sri Lanka's unique climate allows for year-round harvesting of this hardy shrub. The assamica leaf is ideal for producing strong , malty, and dark teas. Other Chinese teas, such as oolong and pu'erh, require longer production times, but are also made from the larger leaves of the assamica plant.

Camellia Sinensis: varieties

Darjeeling It is the northernmost district in northern India, in Bengal. Darjeeling tea is often called the "Champagne of Teas" and is made from the Camellia sinensis sinensis variety, the Chinese variety of the tea plant. But unlike tea from most of the rest of India, it is made from its native Camellia sinensis assamica.

Despite the widespread belief that black tea is always 100% oxidized, most Darjeeling black teas are similar to oolongs, not fully oxidized. While Darjeeling is primarily known for its black tea, it also produces high-quality oolongs and green teas. To qualify as "Darjeeling," the tea must be produced in one of the 87 tea gardens (tea estates) in the Darjeeling district. Each year, the district produces around 10,000 tons of tea. There are distinct harvest seasons in Darjeeling, and the flavor changes throughout the year. That's why we chose two different black Darjeelings (first flush and second flush) to taste at Tétique . You'll find the best organic teas.

Properties of Camellia Sinensis

The properties of Camellia Sinensis are found in the same properties as tea, because like other teas, it is a beverage very rich in antioxidants and flavonoids.

Would you like to offer a selection of high-quality teas in your café in Madrid, Barcelona, or Valencia? We have the perfect solution for you! At Tetique, we provide the highest quality loose teas , sourced directly from the world's finest tea gardens.