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.
Where does tea seed oil come from?
With its high smoke point (252°C, 485°F), tea seed oil is the main cooking oil in some of the southern provinces of China, such as Hunan. In Japan tea seed oil is derived from Camellia japonica, mainly from Gotō Islands of Nagasaki prefecture and Izu islands of Tokyo prefecture.
What is tea seed oil (TSO)?
Tea seed (TS), as the mature fruit and growth source of tea plant, has been characterized with appealing bioactive substances, remarkable health benefits and diverse application prospects. As one of the most significant products of TS, tea seed oil (TSO) has gained recognition as the “oriental olive oil”.
Does tea seed oil contain oleic acid?
There are also some research results on tea seed oil, although still few, showing that tea seed oil contains oleic acid and linoleic acid, which is comparable to oil of other camellias. While the world of tea seed oil is still in the developing stage, the number of abandoned tea fields is still expected to increase.