This is a smaller-leafed variety native to China that is typically used to make green and white teas. It evolved as a shrub growing in sunny regions with drier, cooler climates. It has a high tolerance for cold and thrives in mountainous regions.

This is a larger-leafed variety first discovered in the Assam district of India and has typically been used to produce strong black teas. Its leaves grow large in warm, moist climates and it is very prolific in sub-tropical forests. Green Loose Leaf Tea. There are hundreds of cultivars and hybrid plants that have evolved from these Camellia sinensis plant varieties over time. But technically any type of tea can be made from the leaves of any Camellia sinensis plant.