HERBS: Camellia sinensis - Tea Plant / Tea Oil (GARDEN, REMEDIES, OILS)

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Camellias

Family: Theaceae

The true wild Camellia sasanqua is a small tree occurring in the

evergreen coastal forests of southern Shikoku, Kyushu and many other

minor islands as far south as Okinawa in Japan. Usually found growing up

to an altitude of 900 metres, Camellia sasanqua is not considered by the

Japanese to be a true Camellia as they call it ‘Sazankwa’ meaning the

‘plum-flowered tea’.

In Japan, the Camellia sasanqua has a long history in cultivation for

practical rather than decorative reasons. The leaves have been used for

centuries to make a form of tea and the seeds or nuts have been a

thriving Japanese industry long before there were any written records.

Prior to the use of oil from whales and fossil fuels, the oil from the

Camellia seeds or nuts were used for lighting, lubrication, and above

all, for cooking and cosmetic purposes. Camellia oil has a higher

calorific content than any other edible oil available naturally in

Japan. Calorific value is the amount of heat that can be produced by the

complete combustion of a given quantity of a substance. The Camellia oil

is difficult to extract and quite time consuming. Therefore, it has made

it very hard for the Camellia oil industry in Japan to compete with

sunflower, corn and other imported oils. Nowadays, Camellia seeds or

nuts are used mainly in cottage industries such as for making doll's

eyes and for many other novelties for the souvenir trade.

Camellia sasanqua was not known in western societies until 1869 when

Dutch traders imported some specimens into Europe. However, due to the

cold European winters sasanquas were not as successful as they have been

in Australia and many of the southern states of the United States of

America.

http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/mount_tomah_botanic_garden/garden_features/blooming\

_calendar/Camellias

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Cultivation and uses - Camellia sinensis is of major commercial

importance because tea is made from its leaves. Tea oil is a sweet

seasoning and cooking oil made by pressing the seeds of Camellia

sinensis or Camellia oleifera.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia

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Tea oil (also known as camellia oil) is an edible, pale amber-green

essential oil with a sweet, herbal aroma. It is cold-pressed mainly from

the seeds of Camellia oleifera but also from Camellia sinensis or

Camellia japonica.

With its high smoke point (485° F.), tea oil is the main cooking oil in

the southern provinces of China—roughly one-seventh of the country's

population. In Japan tea oil is derived from Camellia japonica, mainly

from Goto Islands of Nagasaki Prefecture and Izu Islands of Tokyo

Prefecture.

Tea oil resembles olive oil and grape seed oil in its excellent storage

qualities and low content of saturated fat and unsaturated fat.

Monounsaturated oleic acid may comprise up to 88% of the fatty acids. It

is high in vitamin E and other antioxidants and low in trans fat.

In addition to its use in salad dressings, dips, marinades and sauces,

for sautéing, stir frying and frying and in margarine production, tea

oil is used to manufacture soap, hair oil, lubricants, paint and a

rustproofing oil as well as in synthesis of other high molecular weight

compounds. Japanese tea oil is used for setting the hair of Sumo

wrestlers and for tempura.

Tea oil should not be confused with tea tree oil, an essential oil

extracted from the leaves of the paperbark Melaleuca alternifolia and

used for medicinal purposes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_oil

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Tee oil is one of the best oils in the world. Its qualities are similar

to olive oil but it is largely unknown to the chefs of this globe, as

the oil is not yet a far traded commodity. It originates in the

mountains of Southern China where the tea tree (Camellia oleifera) grows

in home gardens and hill sides.

http://www.natureproducts.net/Food/Tea_oil_cooking.html

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Camellia sinensis - Tea Plant

Camellia sinensis is the source of tea of commerce. The young processed

leaves yield tea -- the world’s most important caffeine beverage. Tea

plants are evergreen, medium sized shrub (4-6 ft.) and can be grown

outside in zones 7-9. The tea plant is native to S. E. Asia.

Blooming Time: Fall. Flowers are solitary in the axils of the leaves.

The flowers are white to 1 ½ inches in diameter and are fragrant.

Culture: Camellia sinensis need full sun to part shade. They prefer a

well drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter (2

parts peat moss or compost to 2 parts loam to 1 part sand or perlite).

The root hairs are very fine, so the plant can not be allowed to dry out

completely. Increase watering when the plant is actively growing and

when the plant is in bloom. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks in the spring

through fall, use a fertilizer for acid loving plants diluted to ½ the

strength recommended on the label. Repot every 2-4 years in late winter

or early spring.

Propagation: Camellia sinensis are propagated by cutting or seed. Soak

seed in warm water for 24 hours before sowing. Hardwood cuttings should

be taken from winter to summer, treated with rooting hormone and with

bottom heat of 72 degrees recommended. Rooting is slow.

Camellia sinensis was featured as Plant of the Week September 10-16, 1999.

http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week046.shtml

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Theaceae (camellia family)

(Life; Embryophyta (plants); Angiospermae (flowering plants);

Eudicotyledons; Order: ales

C. japonica is a common garden plant and the leaves of Camellia sinensis

are the source of tea .

http://www.museums.org.za/bio/plants/theaceae/

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Tea Oil

Long term use of Tee Oil for cooking and as body oil can prevent

artheriosclerosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases, edema,

cranial vascular diseases, obesity, cancer, and it reduces cholesterol.

Such, it helps in losing weight, beautifying the skin, relieving

constipation, recover from illness and child birth, and is generally

good for strengthening health of elderly people.

Camellia oleifera contains 83% mono-unsaturated fatty acids, making it

the " beautification oil " Number 1.

http://www.natureproducts.net/Products/Tea_list.html

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