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Camellia sinensis var. assamica
Camellia sinensis var. assamica, commonly known as Assam tea, is a robust evergreen shrub native to the tropical regions of Northeast India. Renowned for its bold, malty flavor, this variety thrives in high humidity. Beyond its culinary use, it possesses potent antioxidant properties vital for holistic wellness and health.
- Scientific name: Camellia sinensis var. assamica
- Family: Theaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Ericales and the family Theaceae, it is classified under the genus Camellia. Specifically, it is identified as the variety assamica within the species Camellia sinensis.
| Rank |
Classification |
Source |
| Kingdom |
Plantae |
WCVP |
| Phylum |
Streptophyta |
WCVP |
| Class |
Equisetopsida |
WCVP |
| Subclass |
Magnoliidae |
WCVP |
| Order |
Ericales |
WCVP |
| Family |
Theaceae |
WCVP |
| Genus |
Camellia |
WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Camellia sinensis var. assamica, is widely recognized by several common names across different linguistic contexts. In Chinese, it is referred to as 大叶茶 (zh), 大叶茶 (zh-cn), 大葉茶 (zh-tw), and 大叶茶 (zh-hans), all of which translate to "large-leaf tea." Additionally, it is famously associated with the name 普洱茶 (zh), referring to the type of tea often produced from this variety.
| Language |
Common Name |
Source |
| zh |
大叶茶 |
Wikidata |
| zh-cn |
大叶茶 |
Wikidata |
| zh-tw |
大葉茶 |
Wikidata |
| zh-hans |
大叶茶 |
Wikidata |
| zh |
普洱茶 |
Wikidata |
| zh |
普洱茶膏 |
Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, its presence is noted in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Moving towards the Indian Subcontinent, the species is prominently found in Assam. Additionally, it is distributed within the borders of Bangladesh. Together, these locations define the primary natural habitat for this specific variety.
| Region |
Area |
Source |
| China |
China South-Central |
WCVP |
| China |
Hainan |
WCVP |
| China |
China Southeast |
WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent |
Assam |
WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent |
Bangladesh |
WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent |
East Himalaya |
WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent |
Nepal |
WCVP |
| Indo-China |
Laos |
WCVP |
| Indo-China |
Myanmar |
WCVP |
| Indo-China |
Thailand |
WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the Assam variety of the tea plant, is primarily cultivated for its leaves, but its reproductive structures also play a biological role. The seeds of Camellia sinensis var. assamica are contained within small capsules that develop after flowering. While the seeds are not the focus of commercial tea production, they are botanically significant as they contain the embryo necessary for propagation and hold a genetic blueprint that distinguishes this robust, large-leafed variety from its Chinese counterparts.
- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part |
Sources |
Confidence |
| seeds |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Camellia sinensis var. assamica has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include anthocyanins, catechins, flavonoid, 22-O-angeloyl theasapogenol A, 22-O-angeloyl theasapogenol B.
- Total chemicals
- 13
- Scientific sources
- 16
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound |
Sources |
Confidence |
| anthocyanins |
2 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| catechins |
2 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoid |
2 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| 22-O-angeloyl theasapogenol A |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| 22-O-angeloyl theasapogenol B |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| 22-O-angeloyl theasapogenol E |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| EGCG |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| carotenoids |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorophylls |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
| epicatechin (EC) |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Camellia sinensis var. assamica has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity |
Sources |
Confidence |
| Antioxidant |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Camellia sinensis var. assamica has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include angioedema.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use |
Sources |
Confidence |
| angioedema |
1 |
★☆☆☆☆ |
