Camellia sinensis Camellia sinensis Camellia sinensis is a species of evergreen shrub or small tree whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce tea. It is of the genus "Camellia" () of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. Common names include "tea plant", "tea shrub", and "tea tree" (not to be confused with "Melaleuca alternifolia", the source of tea tree oil, or "Leptospermum scoparium", the New Zealand Tea Tree). "Camellia sinensis" var. "sinensis" and "Camellia sinensis" var. "assamica", are two major varieties grown today. White tea, yellow tea, green tea, oolong, dark tea (which includes pu-erh tea) and black tea are
Camellia taliensis is the tea variety traditionally cultivated in Yunnan. Like "C. sinensis, C. taliensis" contains both theanine and caffeine. "C. talensis" can be easily crossed with "C. sinensis," and the resulting crossbred plants are intermediate between species both morphologically and chemically indicating true hybrids. "Camellia taliensis" is locally used to make white tea, black tea, and pu'er tea. Yue Guang Bai (月光白 "Moonlight White") is a white tea made from the plant. Yunnan pu-erh tea made from "C. taliensis" can command a much higher price than pu'er made from the more common "C. sinensis." Camellia taliensis Camellia taliensis (also Yunnan large