Tea;Camellia sinensis – Sayama Kaori

Plant family: Theacaeae

Plant origin: China, Northern India and Tibet.

Fruit description: Sayama Kaori Tea plant has fruit which is small, hard, green and not edible.

Flowers: The flowers are 25-40mm in diameter, sweetly perfumed, white with 8 petals and many yellow stamens in the centre.

Growing conditions: Sayama Kaori Tea is a long lived evergreen dense shrub, growing to 2 metres in height. The leaves are dark glossy green. It needs a warm, subtropical or tropical climate. It loves acidic soil, as do all Camellias so add elemental sulphur to the growing area. It likes rich soil with plenty of organic matter. It requires good drainage, water logging will kill it. Protect the shrub from strong or hot winds, especially until established. It can be grown as an attractive hedge or in a pot. It can be espaliered. Sayama Kaori Tea plant tolerates frost. It prefers part shade but grows well in full sun. It is an attractive plant as well as producing tea. Only use Camellia or Azalea potting mix and fertilisers on Tea plants.

Uses: Add the leaves or leaf tips to hot water to make a refreshing hot or cold drink. Sayama Kaori Tea plants fresh green leaves make Japanese and Asian green tea. You need to process the leaves to make black tea by rolling, oxygenating and drying the leaves. Try steaming and drying the leaves in the oven until you get a flavour you like. The dried tea keeps well in an airtight container at room temperature. You can also process the leaves to make Oolong tea.

Medicinal uses: Tea is a rich sources of antioxidants.

Pollination requirements: Self-Pollinating.

Harvest time Pick the young Sayama Kaori Tea plant leaves or leaf buds as they appear, about every 2 weeks.

Plant relatives

Special features: Tea is commercially cultivated at high elevations in China, India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

Grown by method: Cutting Grown Pot size: 140mm

Plant growing Height and Width for pots or in the ground planting: Grows to 2 metres high by 1.5 metres wide if Planted in a Pot. Grows 2 metres high by 2 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.

Shipping plant pot or planter bag size: 140mm