Tea (leaves of Camellia sinensis)

Picture of blue and white cup on saucer, heaped up with black (China) tea leaves. Camellia sinensis L. (formerly Thea sinensis) is an evergreen Asiatic shrub of the theaceae family. The infusion of leaves of this plant is used as Oriental tea which contains caffeine, theophylline, and epigallocatechin gallate. Theophylline is a methyl xanthine derivative with diuretic, smooth muscle relaxant, bronchial dilation, cardiac and central nervous system stimulant activities. It is used in the treatment of asthma.