
Camellia Sinensis is one of the primary plants that we get tea from.
There are a few variations of tea plants but Camellia Sinensis is the
type that will grow to 6 feet tall, while other variations can grow in excess
of 10 feet or more in the form of a tree.

Camellia Sinensis will grow fruit containing seeds, if planted they
will grow. If you plan on harvesting tea from plants grown from seed it can
take 3 years or more to grow a plant big enough to harvest from.
Prepare Green Tea from Camellia Sinensis:
- Pluck
the newly grown young leaves and leaf buds in early Spring.
- Preheat
your oven to 250°F.
- Dry
the leaves with a napkin or clothe and let the leaves dry in the shade for
about 3 or 4 hours in the heat of the day.
- Dice
the leaves with a kitchen knife so they look more like your used to seeing
prepared tea leaves.
- Steam
the leaves for about a minute, or for a different flavor roast them in a
skillet for 2 minutes instead.
- Spread
the leaves out on a pan and dry in the oven at 250°F for 20 minutes.
- Either
store the leaves for later, or make a cup and taste test it!

Prepare Oolong Tea from Camellia Sinensis:
- Pluck
the newly grown young leaves and leaf buds in early Spring.
- Spread
them out on a towel in the heat of the sun and let them dry for
about 45 minutes.
- Bring
your leaves inside and let them sit at room temperature for about 4 hours,
mixing the leaves around every hour.
- Preheat
your oven to 250°F.
- The
edges of the leaves will start to turn red as they begin to dry.
- Spread
the leaves on a baking pan and dry in the oven at 250F for 20 minutes.
- Either
store the leaves for later, or make a cup and taste test it!
- Pluck the very youngest leaves and leaf buds.
- Roll the leaves between your hands or with a rolling pin and crush them until the leaves start to darken and turn red.
- Spread
them out on a tray, and leave them in a cool location for 2-3 days.
- Spread
the leaves on a baking pan and dry in the oven at 250F for 20 minutes.
- Either
store the leaves for later, or make a cup and taste test it!
Prepare your own Tea from Camellia Sinensis:
- Also
start with the very youngest leaves, leaf buds and stems.
- (Some
teas are made of mostly the steam from the plant!)
- Cut
your tea into small pieces, kind of dice it.
- Experiment
with drying, crushing, roasting, fermenting and flavoring your tea.
- (Mix
other flowers for unique flavors: Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Fruit flowers,
Lemon Balm flowers, Rose flowers, Rose hips, Chamomile, etc)
- Make
sure your tea is dry before storing in an air tight container or you may
get mold.

Jemma Catt.
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