The parent plant of green and black tea.
Evergreen shrub with green leaves, white flower and flattened capsule fruit with up to 2 brown, roundish seeds. Flowering time: October to February, fruit ripening: August to October
The shrub grows up to 15 m high and is native to the southern hemisphere. It is mainly cultivated in many Asian countries, e.g. China, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, and is also exported from these countries. The caffeine content is significant, as are small amounts of theobromine and theophylline, substances that belong to the methylxanthines and are used as medicines in various areas of medicine.