Green teaDESCRIPTION

Botany: Camelia sinensis is an evergreen shrub or occasionally a tree, much branched; young leaves hairy; up to about 9 m high if free growing, but usually maintained at 1-1.5 m high by regular pruning. Native to the mountainous regions of southern China, India, Japan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and other tropical and subtropical countries; cultivated in United States in the Carolinas. Parts used are dried, cured leaf bud and two adjacent young leaves together with the stem, broken between the second and third leaf bud together which are called “tea flush” and are collected from spring to autumn.

History and/or folklore: Archaeological evidence indicates that tea leaves steeped in boiling water were consumed by Homo erectus pekinensis more than 500,000 years ago. Chinese legend described in the Cha Ching (tea book) around AD 780, attributes tea drinking to one of earliest Chinese herbalists, King Shen Nong, ca. 2700 BC. Indian legend claims that tea was brought to China by Siddhardtha Guatama Buddha during his travels in that country.

Biochemistry: The chemistry of tea is extremely complicated. It contains caffeine, with small amount of other xanthine alkaloids (theobromin, theophyline, dirnethylxanthine, xanthine, adenine, etc.). Part of the caffeine is in bound form. Tea also contains large amounts of tannins or phenolic substances consisting of both catechin (flavanol) and gallic acid units. Other components present in tea include fats; flavonoids (quercetin, quercitrin, rutin, etc.); anthocyanins; amino acids; triterpenoid saponin glycosides (theasaponin, isotheasaponins, and assamsaponins); sterols; vitamin C; flavour and aroma chemicals including theaflavin, thearubigin, l-epicathechingallate, theogallin, theaspirone, dihydroactinidiolide, dimethyl sulphide, ionones, damasconones, jasmine, furfuryl alcohol, geranial, trans-hexen-2-al, and others, totalling over 300 compounds; proteins; polysaccharides; pigments (carotenoids); and others

Products: Camellia sinensis botanical extract and fixed (non-volatile) oil

USES

The common tea bag is used as a wash for sunburn, as a poultice for baggy eyes, and as a compress for headache or tired eyes. In India the leaf juice is used as a topical haemostatic agent for cuts and injuries.

Traditional use: in the traditional medicine of India, green tea is recorded as a mild excitant, stimulant, diuretic and astringent, and the leaf-infusion (tea) was formerly used to remedy fungal infections caused by insects. It has antioxidant properties.

Camellia sinensis botanical extract:
A 100% natural, standardised, high purity green tea extract with excellent antioxidant efficacy supported by high total polyphenol (> 72%) and high epigallocatechin gallate and no added caffeine. A potent anti-oxidant (scavenger of harmful free radicals). Anti-aging skin benefits through collagenase inhibition and anti-inflammatory activity.

Camellia sinensis leaf oil
Antioxidant; Skin-conditioning agent.

TOXICOLOGY

Recommended restricted use and concentration in cosmetics. Fragrance safe only within recommended use or concentration limits.

ESSENTIQ PRODUCTS CONTAINING GREEN TEA

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Body care