Description:
– Genus Camellia includes commercially important species like Camellia oleifera grown in China.
– Camellia oleifera is used for vegetable oil production.
– 4,000,000 hectares of oleifera forest in China produce 0.26 million tons of oil.
– Wild Camellia oleifera contains ~47% oil.
– Cultivated varieties have shown oil content ranging from 42 to 53%.
Uses:
– Tea seed oil has a high smoke point of 252°C, making it the main cooking oil in some Chinese provinces.
– It is used in traditional Chinese medicine for various purposes.
– Used as a dietary supplement for the digestive system and to manage cholesterol.
– Topically used as baby lotion and for burn injuries.
Cautions:
– Tea seed oil should not be confused with tea tree oil, which is used for medicinal purposes.
– Tea tree oil is extracted from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia.
See also:
– Camellia japonica is a source of Tsubaki oil used in cooking and hairstyling.
– Camellia sinensis is used for tea production.
References:
– “The Lipid Handbook” by Gunstone, Harwood, and Padley.
– Research by Yang et al. in 2016.
– Study by Ma et al. in 2010.
– Tea seed oil facts, health benefits, and nutritional value.
Sources:
– Comparison of oil content and fatty acid profile of Camellia oleifera cultivars by Yang et al.
– Fatty acid composition of Camellia oleifera oil by Ma et al.
External links:
– Nursery production of tea oil camellia under different light conditions by Ruter in 2002.
Tea seed oil (also known as camellia oil, camellia seed oil, teanut oil) is an edible plant oil. It is obtained from the seeds of Camellia oleifera.
Camellia sasanqua is also given as a source of 'tea seed oil.