Description
Camellia sinensis ‘Tea Breeze’ is a selection of tea introduced to the western world by Canadian plantsman Pierre Piroche. It is an ornamental shrub or small tree apparently hardy to zone 6 (hardier than other cultivars) with dense, glossy, dark-green leaves used for making tea. Single, white, fragrant flowers bloom from September-November. Leaves and roots are also used in traditional Chinese medicine. It apparently originated at the Kunming Botanical Garden. Harvest or ‘pluck’ tea leaves during the warmer months. Select only the top three newly flushing young leaves from the branch tips. Research which method to use to dry and cure your leaves as this will determine which type of tea you get. Tea camellias becomes multi-branched and can reach 6 feet or more tall and wide in 10 years with profuse shoots to harvest from. Or keep shrubs pruned to any size you like.
