Description: A subtropical evergreen shrub up to 3 m high, with numerous coppice shoots by which the plant naturally rejuvenates itself. Leather) leaves are deep green and slightly serrated. Pedicellate flowers are whitish tc yellowish, with 5 petals and numerous (about 200) stamens with bright yellow anthers and trifid stigma. Fruit is a brown, leathery capsule containing large oily seeds.
Origin and Distribution: Central and southeastern China is the homeland of Chinese tea — more aromatic but less productive than Indian tea which is indigenous to the Sub-Himalayan region. Other tea brands are only commercial designations.
Harvesting and Preparation: Tea is grown in plantations in the whole subtropical zone, and harvested several times a year. Young offshoots, the so-called ‘flashes’, are gathered; from them either fermented, black tea, popular in Europe, semi-fermented (oolong) tea, or unfermented, green tea, drunk in China and southeastern Asia, is obtained. Approximately 4,500 `flashes’ must be picked to obtain 1 kg of dried tea.
Constituents: Both kinds of tea contain the stimulating and invigorating alkaloid caffeine, a small amount of theophylline, theobromine and tannins. The amount of these substances varies considerably, not so much according to brand as according to the position of the leaves on the twig. The young, undeveloped leaves on the tips of the plant contain the highest quantities of caffeine and tannins; the quantities decrease the further down the plant the leaves are.
Cosmetic Uses: For cosmetic purposes, the tannin content in tea makes an infusion useful for closing the pores and as a general skin tonic to improve the appearance of the skin. Tea also has a soothing and disinfectant effect. Tea may be used for washing off a face pack (do not use soap for this). A resinoid extracted from tea of quality too poor to drink is used in some perfumes for men, as its scent resembles that of tobacco.
Other Uses: Tea is an important crop, harvested for the preparation of a refreshing beverage, popular throughout most of the world.
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