Camellia taliensis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Camellia taliensis |
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Camellia
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taliensis
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Camellia taliensis is a type of evergreen shrub or small tree. Its leaves and leaf buds are used to make tea. People know it by many names, like Yunnan large leaf varietal tea or wild tea. It belongs to the same plant group, Camellia, as the well-known tea plant.
This plant is a wild relative of the common tea plant, Camellia sinensis. Both are part of the Thea section within the Camellia family. Sadly, Camellia taliensis is an endangered species. This is because its natural home is being broken up by human activities. Also, too many leaves are picked for the tea market.
What is Camellia taliensis?
Camellia taliensis has five small parts inside its ovary (the part of a flower that holds seeds). The common tea plant, C. sinensis, only has three. This helps scientists tell them apart.
This plant mostly grows in the southwestern part of Yunnan province in China. You can also find it in nearby areas of Thailand and northern Myanmar.
C. taliensis has bigger leaves than some types of C. sinensis. In many ways, like its leaf size and chemical makeup, C. taliensis is quite similar to a specific type of tea plant called C. sinensis var. assamica. Both C. taliensis and C. sinensis contain important compounds like theanine and caffeine. These are what give tea its special taste and energy boost.
It's easy to cross C. taliensis with C. sinensis. The new plants that grow from this mix are a blend of both parent plants. This shows they are true hybrids.
How is Camellia taliensis used?
Local people use Camellia taliensis to make different kinds of tea. These include white tea, black tea, and pu'er tea.
One famous white tea made from this plant is called Yue Guang Bai. Its name means "Moonlight White."
Pu'er tea made from C. taliensis can be much more expensive than pu'er tea made from the more common C. sinensis plant. This shows how special and valued C. taliensis tea is.
See also
In Spanish: Camellia taliensis para niños
