''Camellia oleifera'', which originated in China, is notable as an important source of edible oil (known as
tea oil or camellia oil) obtained from its seeds. It is commonly known as the oil-seed camellia or tea oil camellia, though to a lesser extent other species of ''
camellia
''Camellia'' (pronounced or ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas in East Asia, eastern and South Asia, southern Asia, from the Himalayas east to Japan and Indonesia. There are ...
'' are used in oil production too.
It is widely distributed in China and is cultivated extensively there. It is found in
forest
A forest is an ecosystem characterized by a dense ecological community, community of trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, ...
s, thickets, banks of streams and foothills at elevations of 500 to 1,300 metres.
This species looks much similar to ''
Camellia sasanqua
''Camellia sasanqua'', with common name sasanqua camellia, is a species of ''Camellia'' native plant, native to southern Japan (Kyushu, Ryukyu Islands and Shikoku). It is usually found growing up to an altitude of .
Growing to tall, this evergr ...
'' except the dark green, evergreen leaves are a bit larger, three to five inches long and two to three inches wide. Single, white, fragrant flowers are produced in mid to late fall, and this large shrub or small tree will reach a height of 20 feet with thin, upright, multiple trunks and branches.
The crown forms a rounded or oval vase with lower branches removed.
Uses
The seeds of ''Camellia oleifera'' can be pressed to yield
tea seed oil
Tea seed oil (also known as ''camellia oil'', ''camellia seed oil'', ''teanut oil'') is an edible plant oil. It is obtained from the seeds of '' Camellia oleifera''.
''Camellia sasanqua'' is also given as a source of 'tea seed oil.
Description
...
, a sweetish seasoning and cooking oil. In tea seed oil,
oleic acid
Oleic acid is a fatty acid that occurs naturally in various animal and vegetable fats and oils. It is an odorless, colorless oil, although commercial samples may be yellowish due to the presence of impurities. In chemical terms, oleic acid is cl ...
, a monounsaturated fatty acid comprises ~80% of the total fatty acid content - the oil is similar in composition to
olive oil
Olive oil is a vegetable oil obtained by pressing whole olives (the fruit of ''Olea europaea'', a traditional Tree fruit, tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin) and extracting the oil.
It is commonly used in cooking for frying foods, as a cond ...
. After the tea seed oil is extracted, the seed itself still serves a purpose. The product of production, known as Camellia oil cake, is used as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
Tea oil is also known as "Tea Seed Oil" when sold as cooking oil in supermarkets throughout Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
It can also be used in textile manufacture, in
soap making
Soap is a salt of a fatty acid (sometimes other carboxylic acids) used for cleaning and lubricating products as well as other applications. In a domestic setting, soaps, specifically "toilet soaps", are surfactants usually used for washing, b ...
and, when burned in an
oil lamp
An oil lamp is a lamp used to produce light continuously for a period of time using an oil-based fuel source. The use of oil lamps began thousands of years ago and continues to this day, although their use is less common in modern times. The ...
, as a source of light.
Camellia oil is also traditionally used to protect Japanese woodworking tools and cutlery from corrosion and is currently sold for that purpose.
[Nakahara, Y; Sato, H.; Nii, P.: "Complete Japanese Joinery: A Handbook of Japanese Tool Use and Woodworking for Joiners and Carpenters" pages 5, 15, 28. Hartley & Marks Publishers, 1998]
See also
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Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is an essential oil with a fresh, camphoraceous odour and a colour that ranges from pale yellow to nearly colourless and clear. It is derived from the leaves of the tea tree, '' Melaleuca alternif ...
is derived from ''
Melaleuca alternifolia'' - it is an essential oil used for medical and cosmetic purposes and is toxic when ingested.
*
Tea tree is a name sometimes applied to a number of different species of plants endemic to Australia. These plants are unrelated to the
tea plant.
References
External links
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{{Authority control
oleifera
Taxa named by Clarke Abel