Camellia sinensis
Green Tea
Theaceae
Identity
- Common Name
- Green Tea
- Scientific Name
- Camellia sinensis
- Botanical Family
- Theaceae
- Native Region
- East Asia (China, Assam)
- Cultivation Regions
- China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, East Africa
- Plant Parts Used
- Leaves (and leaf buds)
- Synonyms
- Tea Plant, Tea
- Caffeine Level
- Caffeinated (moderate, ~20–45 mg/cup)
An evergreen shrub or small tree 1–9 m, pruned low for plucking, with glossy dark green serrated leaves, white fragrant five-petaled flowers, and a tender leaf bud (the tip). Green tea is made from leaves that are quickly heated/steamed to prevent oxidation.
Historical Background
Tea is the world's most consumed manufactured beverage after water, with 5,000 years of history in China — first as a medicine, then as a drink. Green tea (unoxidized) preserves more catechins than black tea, and its long association with meditation (Zen/Chan) and health spans Chinese, Japanese, and global cultures.
Earliest recorded uses: Chinese legend attributes tea's discovery to Shennong (~2737 BCE); Lu Yu's Classic of Tea (760 CE) codified it.
Cultural significance: Tea shaped Chinese and Japanese civilization — the Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu) is a Zen-inspired art of attention and hospitality, and the word 'tea' now denotes both the plant and the global ritual of brewing.
Traditional preparations:
- Leaf infusion
- Matcha (powder)
- Gyokuro, sencha styles
Traditional Uses
These uses document historical traditions and do not imply proven effectiveness.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Tea for alertness, digestion, and meditation support.
Modern Herbalism
Consumed for antioxidants and focus.
Flavor & Aroma
Aroma: Fresh, grassy, vegetal, sometimes marine
Tea Information
Safety & Cautions
Research Summary
Green tea is among the most-studied beverages; its catechins (notably EGCG) have antioxidant and mild metabolic effects. Some trials suggest modest benefits for cardiovascular risk markers and alertness, while evidence for cancer prevention is inconclusive. Concentrated extracts have been linked to rare liver injury. It is a caffeinated beverage, not a medicine.
Evidence levels reflect the currently available scientific literature and may change as new research emerges. Where evidence is limited or conflicting, this is stated plainly.
References & Sources
Related Herbs
Centella asiatica
Gotu Kola
Apiaceae
Green, earthy, slightly bitter, grassy
Tribulus terrestris
Tribulus
Zygophyllaceae
Mild, slightly bitter, green
Ilex paraguariensis
Yerba Mate
Aquifoliaceae
Herbal, smoky, grassy, slightly bitter