Camellia sinensis is the plant most commonly grown to make the black tea you find in your grocery store tea bags.
This is a plant grown as often for landscaping as for making tea.
The leaves are glossy and the foliage is thick. This small tree can be delicate. It needs protection for winds and strong sunshine. It is hardy to USDA zone 7 so it can’t be planted outdoors in north-western NJ. It can be grown in a pot in those areas and brought indoors in the winter.
It will have a show of fragrant flowers in the summer.
Morning sun and medium humidity with just the right amount of water will keep your plant healthy. They are fussy so you will have to spend more time caring for this plant than many others. Just a light fertilizer and you’re all set.
Once the tree has enough leaves where it can spare some for a harvest, pick a couple of leaves from each branch and dry them in a low temperature oven. Store them for your next tea party.