Chinese tea green, oolong, black and post-fermented. Others add categories for scented and compressed teas. All of these come from varieties of the "Camellia sinensis" plant. Most Chinese teas are cultivated and consumed in China, however are also exported internationally due to a rise in the popularity of Chinese cuisine worldwide. It is commonly available in Chinese Restaurants and grocery shops worldwide. Green tea is the most popular type of tea consumed in China. Within these main categories of tea are vast varieties of individual beverages. Some researchers have counted more than 700 of these beverages. Others put the number at more
Camellia sinensis Robert Sweet shifted all formerly "Thea" species to the genus "Camellia" in 1818. The name "sinensis" means "from China" in Latin. Four varieties of "Camellia sinensis" are recognized. Of these, "C. sinensis" var. "sinensis" and "C. sinensis" var. "assamica" (JW Masters) Kitamura are most commonly used for tea, and "C. sinensis" var. "pubilimba" Hung T. Chang and "C. sinensis" var. "dehungensis" (Hung T. Chang & BH Chen) TL Ming are sometimes used locally. There are hundreds, if not thousands of cultivars of "C. sinensis." Some Japanese cultivars include: "Camellia sinensis" is native to East Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast