Camellia sinensis: historical perspectives and future prospects

As the source of brewed tea preparations, Camellia sinensis has operated for centuries at the interface of agriculture, politics, and biology. The purpose of this review is to present an inter-disciplinary survey of issues surrounding cultivation, processing, and consumption of the tea plant. Particular attention is given to the biologic effects of tea: first, assessing at the level of human physiology its value as a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent; second, examining effects of production upon local ecosystems, due to resource demands and industrial farming practices. In sum, C. sinensis emerges as a potentially powerful contributor to both public health and economic growth if its role is managed from a prospective, sustainable, and evidence-based vantage.