October 2025

Camellia sinensis – one simple plant, hundreds of possibilities

In most European languages the word tea is a collective term for a hot infused drink. It doesn’t matter whether herbs, spices, or fruits are used. Strictly speaking, however, the term refers to the product of a single, versatile plant – Camellia Sinensis.

Whether green or black – it all starts with the tea plant

For those unfamiliar with it, the tea plant appears completely unremarkable at first glance. With its fleshy, green leaves and bushy growth, it would be easily overlooked if it stood in a simple front garden.

But over a thousand years ago, people in what is now China began cultivating Camellia sinensis. Over the course of its long history, the tea plant has become the source material from which all known types of tea are produced.

Laboriously cultivated, masterfully processed

Similar to grape varieties, different varieties of tea plants were also traded and cultivated over large areas. They were valued for their resilience, their aromas, and their versatility. Tea is extracted from the leaves of these so-called cultivars using traditional methods.

The harvested leaves can be used to make any type of tea that is ultimately found on the market: black tea, green tea, oolong, or matcha. The possibilities are more diverse than the simple appearance of Camellia sinensis would suggest.

But how is tea processed? …Stay tuned and find out!