Tea is an evergreen camellia whose young leaves, plucked as two leaves and a bud, become black, green and white tea. Tamil calls the leaf theyilai, and Hindi chai means both the drink and the plant. India is the world’s second-largest tea producer, from Assam, Darjeeling, the Dooars and the Nilgiris. Darjeeling tea was the first Indian product to receive a geographical indication, in 2004.
- Botanical name
- Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze
- Family
- Theaceae
- Tamil
- Theyilai
- Hindi
- Chai
- Parts used
- Young leaf
- Habit
- Tea shrub; the drink is a leaf infusion, not a clinic
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Tea
Left alone it grows into a small tree, but estates prune it to a flat, waist-high bush called the plucking table.
The leaves are leathery, glossy, dark green and finely toothed, with a short stalk and a pointed tip.
Fragrant white flowers with a cluster of yellow stamens open singly or in pairs in the leaf axils.
The fruit is a hard, rounded capsule with one to three large, brown seeds.
The Assam variety has larger, softer leaves than the small-leaved China variety grown in Darjeeling.
Traditional use of Tea
Kitchen
Indian masala chai is brewed with milk, sugar and spices such as ginger and cardamom, and sold at roadside stalls across the country.
Indian food practice
Kitchen
The Singpho people of Assam brewed wild tea long before British planters arrived, and in Kashmir green tea is brewed with spices as kahwa.
Assamese and Kashmiri food practice
Processing
For black tea the leaves are withered, rolled or cut, left to oxidise until coppery, and then dried; green tea is heated early to stop oxidation.
Tea estate practice
Modern notes on Tea
A cup of black tea typically contains around 40 to 50 milligrams of caffeine, roughly half that of a cup of coffee.
Tea also contains L-theanine, an amino acid studied for its calming effect alongside caffeine.
Green tea is rich in catechins such as EGCG; concentrated green tea extract supplements have been linked to rare cases of liver injury.
Most Indian black tea is made by the CTC method, which crushes, tears and curls the leaf into small granules that brew strong.
Tea safety
Tea tannins reduce iron absorption from plant foods, so people with anaemia should drink tea between meals rather than with them. Very large daily amounts of strong tea can add up to a lot of caffeine and fluoride.
Ecology and sourcing
It is native to the forests of southern China, northern Myanmar and north-east India.
It needs acidic soil and plenty of rain, which is why estates sit on hill slopes.
Large plantations replaced forest in Assam and the Western Ghats, and elephants often move through the estates.
Related plants
Questions about Tea
Are green and black tea from different plants?
No. Both come from Camellia sinensis, processed differently.
Does tea have caffeine?
Yes, about half as much per cup as coffee.
What is CTC tea?
Leaf crushed, torn and curled into granules for strong brewing.
Where is tea grown in India?
Mainly Assam, West Bengal, the Nilgiris and Kerala.
Is herbal tea made from Tea plant?
No. Most herbal teas are infusions of other plants.
Sources
- Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q101815 (Camellia sinensis)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.