Camellia sinensis 'Darjeeling' - Darjeeling Tea Shrub, Tea Plant, Thea Chinensis, Tea Tree, Chai, Tea Shrub Seeds

Description

The leaves and buds of this shrub or small tree are the source of common black, green and white tea. An easy to grow plant for temperate and tropical climates in USDA Zones 8 to 11 that also makes a nice ornamental especially if pruned into shape. This variety is commonly grown in the hills of northeastern India and is the source of the famous Darjeeling tea.

Camellia sinensis is a species of evergreen shrubs or small trees in the flowering plant family Theaceae. Its leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea. Common names include “tea plant”, “tea shrub”, and “tea tree” (not to be confused with Melaleuca alternifolia, the source of tea tree oil, or Leptospermum scoparium, the New Zealand tea tree).

This rarely seen or offered hardy evergreen plant boasts glossy green, pointed and, predictably, fragrant leaves which are smaller than other camelias. The appearance of delicate pure white flowers, with an enormous central boss of golden anthers, means that this shrub has more to offer than just a refreshing cuppa. If you can grow other varieties of Camellia in your garden chances are you’ll be able to grow this fabulous hardy evergreen shrub. It is the exclusive source of the highly-valued, genuine Darjeeling tea, which is an aromatic black tea, grown in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India. Darjeeling is grown for the leaves of the Chinese variety of Camellia sinesis var. sinesis, and is known as the champagne of teas for its delicate taste and flavours such as muscatel and is one of the most expensive teas due to its unique taste and very limited production. It is available in black, green, white and oolong, and when properly brewed yields a thin-bodied, light-coloured infusion with a floral aroma, and the flavour can include a tinge of musky spiciness sometimes described as “muscatel”, although Darjeeling teas are marketed commercially as “black teas”. Tea is the most important non-alcoholic beverage in the world, and over three million tonnes are grown annually, so grow your own if you are adventurous! Genuine true seeds!