Page 18 - Irene Farm Villagers Issue 2_2023

Estate News

TEA – A LEGENDARY CAMELLIA

istory tells us that people moisture and tolerate early morning so it is important to apply a 2-to-3 inch
began consuming tea in sun. But they don’t perform well in (plus minus 5 to 8 centimetres) layer
HChina in 2700 B.C. full sun or afternoon sun. Roots suffer of mulch (preferably pine straw) at the
Countless books have been written from summer heat and strong winds, base of the plant.
on the history of tea and how it has
made its way from an Emperors cup in
China to around the globe. The healing
properties are heavily documented
and countless studies have been
conducted on medicinal uses of tea.
Tea plants made their way from
China to Japan and spread to Taiwan,
Burma, Assam and Sri Lanka. The
Dutch East India Company brought
tea from China to Europe in 1610. Tea
is now grown throughout the world in
favourable climates.
Most people don’t realise that tea
comes from a camellia. CAMELLIA
SINENSIS is the plant. When we think
of camellias, we mostly think of the
evergreen, winter-blooming trees
that display gorgeous, large flowers
in colours of red, pink, white and all
kinds of variations.
These plants need even more

16 • Issue 2 2023 • The Villager