Sweet! Tea is easy to grow

Q. What plant is tea made from?

A. Most homeowners are familiar with Japanese and Sasanqua camellias (Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua). Both of these ornamental plants are widely grown in North Carolina. Even though tea can be made from any plant in the genus Camellia, it is Camellia sinensis that the world uses to make tea. The common name for Camellia sinensis is simply "tea." Like the ornamental species of Camellia, tea can also be grown in North Carolina.

Camellia sinensis grows in cold hardiness zones 7 through 9. This plant will also thrive in a range of light environments from sunny to shady, but prefers partial shade. Its fragrant, white flowers open in the fall. It is evergreen, takes pruning well, and makes a great hedge.

Besides being a great landscape plant, it can be used to make tea. Green, oolong, black, white, and even brick tea are all made from the same plant. The origin of tea concentrate, used by most restaurants, is debatable.

Preparation of the leaves and stems determines what type of tea will be produced. For example, green tea is produced by plucking the very youngest leaves and leaf buds, then drying them in the shade for a few hours. Next, steam the leaves (as you would vegetables) on the stove for about a minute. Spread the leaves on a baking sheet and dry in the oven at 250 degrees for 20 minutes.

Black tea is produced by cutting the very youngest leaves and leaf buds, rolling the leaves between your hands, and crushing them until the leaves start to darken and turn red. Next, spread them out on a tray, and leave in a cool location for two to three days. Then dry them in the oven at 250 degrees for about 20 minutes.

After water, tea is the second most commonly consumed liquid on earth. It has numerous medicinal benefits because of its antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Tea has been enjoyed since 3000 B.C., and traditional healers have long believed that drinking tea is a means of prolonging life.

Growing tea plants may be the perfect perpetual gardening activity: Prune the tea hedge; gather up the clippings; brew some tea from the clippings to quench thirst generated from pruning; get healthy from drinking tea; use good health to prune more shrubs.

Most Southerners would agree with the ancient Chinese saying: "Better to be deprived of food for three days, than of tea for one."