Chinese Tea

Growing

Cultivating tea as a woody shrub requires a focus on acidity, as this plant thrives only in highly acidic soils with a pH between 4.5 and 6.0. Whether you are planting nursery stock in the ground or tending to a container, ensure your medium is well-draining to prevent waterlogged roots. While the plant is quite hardy and can withstand light frost, it performs best when established in a warm season environment.

When managing your tea bush, keep an eye out for the caterpillars of the willow beauty moth, which are known to feed on the leaves. If you are growing the plant for its harvestable foliage, remember that the leaves do not ripen after they are picked; you must harvest them when they are ready for use. For those interested in more than just the leaves, the seeds from the tea bush can actually be pressed to produce a sweetish tea oil used for seasoning.

If you plan to harvest leaves for processing, keep them unwashed to maintain quality. Once processed, you can store your tea in a dry, cool, dark cellar to preserve its character. If you are propagating new plants, using cuttings is a reliable method to replicate the specific characteristics of your parent plant.