Synonym: Camellia thea. 

 Biological source: Tea contains prepared leaves and leaf buds of Thea sinensis Linn. 

Family: Theaceae. 

 Geographical source: Tea is cultivated in India, Srilanka, Indonesia, China and Japan. In India it is cultivated in North-Eastern India (mainly in Assam and Bengal), South India (in Nilgiri, Palni, Annamalai hills in Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka states) and North West India (in Dehradun, Almora and Garhwal district of Uttaranchal, Kangra valley and Mandi district of Himanchal Pradesh). 

Cultivation and Collection: 

The tea is available in two forms: 

1. Black tea 

2. Green tea 

             Black tea is available from India and Srilanka whereas green tea is available from China and Japan. Black tea is obtained by fermentation of fresh tea leaves which further dried artificially. 

              Green tea is obtained by keeping tea leaves in copper vessel and then dried artificially. 

              Tea is a dried leaf of bush which contains theine which gives cheap and stimulation drink upon addition of boiling water with sugar and milk. So tea is most important beverage crop of India. The basic requirement for the cultivation of tea leaves are deep, light, well drained acidic soil (pH 5.8 to 5.4 or less), humid climate with annual rainfall (100 cm), altitude (2100 meter above sea level), temperature is in the range of 21°C to 29°C is ideal for its cultivation. Tea is shade loving plant and it develops more vigorously when planted along with shady trees.