Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is a shrub or small tree of the Theaceae family that can grow up to 15 meters in the wild but is pruned to 0.6-1.5 meters when cultivated, originating from Yunnan Province, China. Its dried leaves, steeped as the world's most popular drink, also produce an essential oil for perfumery. Green tea in particular is known to be rich in antioxidants and is traditionally believed to be anticancer and relieve migraines.

Tea plantations in Indonesia are found at a fairly wide range of suitable elevations, 400-2,000 m above sea level. Its growth favors fertile soil with pH 4.5-5.6, air temperature ranging 13-15 °C, annual rainfall not less than 2,000 mm/year, daytime relative humidity >70%.

• Roots taproot, few branches. Has shallow roots, sensitive to soil conditions.
• Stem upright, woody, branching, twig tips and young leaves finely hairy.
• Leaves single, growing alternately on branches that grow from leaf axils down to below the canopy. Lance-shaped, pinnate venation and pointed at the tip.
• Flowers located at leaf axils, single or several flowers joined together. Bright white flower color.

• Propagated generatively (by seed), select quality seeds (glossy black, specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of water). Sow the seeds, which can be done directly in soil or a polybag. Seedlings can be transplanted to the plantation after being 2 years old in the nursery.
• Vegetative propagation (cuttings), cuttings are taken from twigs 1 node long and having 1 leaf.

Polyphenols (epigallocatechin gallate), caffeine, theobromine, gallic acid, catechin, ampelopsin, epicatechin, epiafzelechin-3-O-gallate, quemefin, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, amino acids.

Anticancer or anticarcinogenic, antiviral, antibacterial, anticataract, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, relieves migraine.

• Pick fresh tea leaves, wash the leaves thoroughly of any attached dirt with running water.
• Slice the tea leaves into small pieces (3 mm wide).
• Dry the leaves (at room temperature), protected from direct sunlight until dry.
• Store in a sterile, airtight container.

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