Yunnan tea plant (Camellia taliensis)

Product description

This tea plant from Yunnan has larger leaves than the common tea plant and is best known for Pu'er tea. This is a type of tea that has been made for thousands of years by the Dai minority in this part of China. After harvesting, the leaves are first dried in the sun for 24 hours, then sprinkled with water and then covered for 45-90 days to ferment. The fermentation process creates a unique flavour that is considered earthy, sweet and full-bodied. Tea from this tea plant can be up to 100 times more expensive than tea from the common tea plant, which is why a lot of leaves are picked wild in Yunnan. Due to overharvesting of leaves and logging, the natural populations of this species are under pressure. The plants are found in the mountains at altitudes between 1,300 and 2,400 metres, where they can reach a height of 2 to 8 metres. 

The species can be kept as a container plant, where it is best overwintered frost-free. Provide well-drained soil and a light location. For making tea, you can pick the young leaves (don't pick all for healthy growth). 

Sowing description: First scarify seeds at 1 spot with sandpaper until a colour difference is visible. Then soak for 24 hours in water and sow in sowing soil at 22-28grC. Keep soil constantly slightly moist, after which germination usually occurs after 4-12 weeks.