Never Buy Green, Black or Oolong Tea Again! How to Grow Your Own Tea at Home

[@eithieus1652]

Hello John, I’m in zone 8b just east of Portland. I have six in ground. They do great here. They are a little over seven years old. I’ve got seeds from them also. My family really enjoys the tea. You can also use the flowers in the tea. A must have plant. They say you just use the two first budding tips of the plant for tea to make the best tea but we have used two year old leaves and it makes a nice earthy, relaxing drink. Thanks for all you do. I have been watching you from the beginning.

[@harrisonholmes905]

Vid starts @ 9:30

[@user-bt5wh3sd5f]

Went there today to buy tea plants!!! I made sure to stop by while visiting my daughter in LA. The owner was very nice!!! Thank you for the information!

[@CaseysGarden]

I went to Nuccio's and picked up tea plants after seeing this video. Thank you! Was very excited to find them within a few hours driving distance. They are great people over there. Had these plants maybe 6 months now. They've acclimated to my yard and are doing well. Looking forward to making my own tea!

[@veganwinter2090]

In Georgia ( usa ), Ag. Zone 7-8. Family obtained sone Camelia Sinensis from Univ. Of Ga. plant sale in Athens Georgia. The bushes have done well outdoors for over 20 years in semi-shade, they have weathered our tooo cooold winters in mid-state. Excellent teas. Easy to propagate.

[@1Lightdancer]

I'm in Oregon, and have the Sochi variety. Years ago when starting out, I watched a video from a camellia grower in Georgia assoc with the U, who commented that the camellia sinensis came through a bad winter which killed many of the others! I just moved into a Grannie Flat, and have seedlings from my friend Nikki, plus picked a larger one up at a favorite plant store to harvest quicker! Nikki took a tea processing and class at that store (15+ years ago) and commented she given them some starts a few years ago, so guessed this is one of those! I have several more babies, will be planting them along a fence that will give them some shade!

[@mortarish]

Based on this video release, I immediately drove up there and bought 5 plants. Since then, 4 died from what I assume too much sun (based on my discussion with the seller). One has held on in the shadiest location and is now producing larger seeds after a couple of years. Hopefully, after some research, I can propagate from seed and get back to my original numbers. My experience tells me that these do not like direct sun for really any part of the day in Southern California. The location where the survivor is, has no direct sun at any time of day. Interestingly, I have aggressive rabbits that destroy morning glory or whatever else they like, but they never touched the tea.

[@dh.151]

Native species of animals sometimes really stick to native species of plants that they are familiar with! Pollinators are one thing but birds and mammals are careful, caffeine is also toxic to some animals I believe so maybe it's instinct too? Keep planting it! Haha plant a wall of tea to keep bunnies away 🤣

[@gardenlife7]

Thank you for the info. So it takes years before you can harvest tea?

[@unguidedone]

so 50%-70% shade cloth???

[@Klio767]

But don’t they grow in Japan on the hill wer they get a lot of sun?

[@crazyjay6331]

​@@Klio767probably due to the humidity and established root system.

[@anthonytroia1]

I'm cultivating several hundred tea plants in zone 6. My plants have survived -10 F

[@peng1164]

Wondering what type of soil could I buy from Home Depot or Lowes to grow tea plants (any recommendations of names would be great)?

[@dylbowers]

Really????

[@amandajohnson2361]

Was researching myself I'm from zone 6 as well and would really like to try growing. Do you cover them in the winter?

[@jessicas3324]

Hola Anthony, por casualidad estás en Uruguay? Buscando plantas o semillas. Gracias y saludos Jessica

[@Skashoon]

Well, good for you. Thanks for posting and ignoring everyone’s questions.

[@1Lightdancer]

Love this little tour!! I'm in Oregon, zone 8-b, and have grown the Sochi variety for ~15 years! (Was ~ 5×5' when i moved last fall!) I learned to process the leaves from my friend Nikki, who now has 9 shrubs!! She came here from England, and loves her own tea better than any on the market. She gave me several starts for my new home across town, and i just got one from a favorite garden shop - she commented that it's likely one they grew out from starts she gave then several years ago! Like you, I chose the largest one with some branching - and just had a wee leaf!! We've picked our a spot along a fence for the tea garden.

[@3ryngo]

I have a tea plant (Camellia Sinensis), yerba mate, roselle(hibiscus), and coffee all growing in zone 9(Texas)! Everything but the roselle grows under the shade of pecan trees. If I could get the trick of growing rooibos, I would never have to buy a beverage again!

[@poppyb.4255]

Miles, do you get frost where you are? If so how often? I'm in zone 8b, Florida panhandle, and I've been thinking about trying to grow tea here for years

[@3ryngo]

Living in zone 9a we do get the occasional freeze, in fact the northern part of our city is considered 8b, so we are right on the line. Our freezes are light and brief so they can be offset by some attention to detail. For instance my tea is planted in a sheltered location between my house and a hugel-style compost hill. I mulch heavily especially in the winter and cover plants if temps below 30 are expected. Micro-climates within your yard determine what you can grow more than hardiness zones alone. That is why it was smart for John to buy 6 plants. I would defiantly give it a try, especially if can find hardy varietals like those from Nuccio's or your local nursery.

[@elizabethbennet4791]

Go ahead and try. Tea starters are available on EBay for affordable price!! Try it, sounds like a suitable enough location using treatment you researched online.

[@elizabethbennet4791]

I dont think weve had one in a year now. Freezes can be avoided with some preparation, water well, wrap with Christmas lights and insulate with bubble wrap. Simple

[@lisagarrett6966]

Hi Miles , I'm in texas and am trying to find good nurseries around Houston. Do you grow anything else? I want to grow a lot of edibles.

[@ronniemurphy2124]

You can catch your A/C's drain water to get the distilled water for these in the summertime. Just make sure your filter is cleaned regularly on the A/C.

[@Pablo-bl4zc]

Thanks for a very informative video, just got my first tea plant today. Keep it up John!

[@josephine987]

I’m so glad you had a video on this! You and your channel have a wealth of knowledge!

[@timehours8042]

john I am your number one fan your juicing videos your garden videos man they have change my life I love you bro!!! thank you so much!

[@TheCossak]

Awesome episode. I was just thinking about growing my own tea the other day and here you are with some valuable information! Thank you :)

[@allanrichard668]

Hey did you succeed

[@TheCossak]

@@allanrichard668 no luck, I was living in OR at that time. Now I’m in NC and once I get a place with a garden I shall try again.

[@allanrichard668]

@@TheCossak I hope you do

[@dylanakent]

Every one of your videos is a gem!

[@artiepascual5209]

I am going there next week. Thank you for spotting this place for the Tea people!

[@Anythingforfreedom]

14:00 did you say cannabis leaves are edible?

[@nickhayley]

Yes. They are.

[@inomenendez4047]

Awesome can you make tea from tender leaves of tea plant?

[@ilianasamayoa9512]

very good information! I definitely will make a trip to that farm, thank you very much for your videos . Keep ' em com coming!

[@lindabenish9716]

Can you harvest the flowers for tea?

[@charliebrownau]

How big of crop do you need to have 2 cups of tea per day for 3 months ?

[@jab376]

@Mr. Meeseeks Emergency mathematics comes handy.

[@entertainmenttv9856]

Excellent... Excellent... Excellent... Very nice and beautiful video.. thanks for such a good information....

[@victoriacandiotti-langan130]

I love Macha. How about growing coffee beans? Any information on this?

[@westronic]

Coffee trees grow well in tropical areas. You could certainly grow your own coffee in the US if you live in Hawaii. You may have difficulty further north, but I have read about people growing their own coffee plants in southern California for example.

[@VaughnMalecki]

Victoria Candiotti-Langan KZbin search "MIgardener coffee plant"

[@queenrandall8396]

Weston Louckshow. &ow to play thegameyanttze

[@DanielinLaTuna]

Vaughn Malecki, I love MIgardener, great channel and pretty humble too.

[@williamkreth]

Damn you John I just ordered 4! I look forward to growing it !

[@terriesmith8219]

Definitely want to grow my own green tea plant one day.

[@drownword]

i need to learn how to prune my camellia sinensis to grow bushy and produce new leaves for harvesting (zone 9b)

[@brianstephens8809]

Hi John, what formula did you come up with for potting soil for your (Camellia Sinensis plants?

[@mpetrus100]

During the time of the Boston Tea Party we probably did not have any states southern enough to grow tea plants.

[@AhNee]

In China, it's grown in the mountains.

[@belindacharpentier628]

Cool, I'm in Houston area with lots of humidity. Reworking beds in front this winter and this will be added. Thanks

[@dc.9035]

How often to water green tea plant? I kept buying after killing these plants.

[@bhalfpint9063]

Where is a or what rose is good for rose water to drink ? Ty:)

[@NotSoCrazyNinja]

If deer eat my tea plants, I'll be feasting on deer meat for awhile.

[@stinkymeow2840]

Mark Reaves Oooop

[@Girlshushyourmouthtv]

🤣🤣😂🤣🤣oh goodness

[@lolitabonita08]

sorry but if the deer ate your plants it is on you...they are doing what nature tell them to do...u on the other hand should protect the plants with a tall fence at least 8 feet... so do not blame the poor deer blame urself....

[@lolitabonita08]

@Mike who cheese harry How arrogant is your statement....we are invading their land, destroying their habitat and food source and then turn around and kill them because they are trying to survive? Is the legacy of this type of people who kill just because of "superiority and arrogant way of thinking" who will left nothing to admire and enjoy for future generations...It will do you good to study nature, the connection that nature, animals, water, air, fire, and humans have...destroy one and humans will perish Fools are those who think that they own the land, the plants, the animals and all nature...fools indeed.

[@nukiesduke6868]

@@lolitabonita08 There's tons of laws and regulations on hunting. Licenses and bag limits are put in place for a reason. To protect animal numbers. Settle down.

[@lambgaming1347]

Thank you. This will be one of the next things added to my garden :-)

[@markemyshibukawa9254]

WOW! Lived here all my life and NEVER heard about this place! We'll have to go visit soon. 👍😁

[@gurdevkaur3127]

How can we buy the black tea plants?

[@ARF.Racing]

lol, John your in my back yard today. I live about half a mile from there. Thinking maybe you could gather up a bunch of pine needles and stuff them into a trash bag and bring them home with you. Take a handful of those pine needles and soak them in a large bucket with the water from your garden hose for a few days. Thinking that should leach out and into the water and make the water more acidic. Same thing as using pine needles as a mulch, just a lot faster process I am thinking. Then you can always water them with an acidic water or atleast more acidic that the normal tap water anyway.

[@forthewagesofsinisdeath4967]

I live in an apartment with a balcony at the back of the apartment. You should do a video all on how to grow enough edibles to eat for your family

[@forthewagesofsinisdeath4967]

we are also vegans, but shop at the store for everything

[@growingyourgreens]

Hard to grow "everything you need" on just a balcony. however, you can offset a good portion of the food you buy. Some of the most important things to grow that will make a difference: 1. microgreens and sprouts 2. herbs 3. Tree Collards

[@colelarson1911]

Learn Organic Gardening at GrowingYourGreens Hey John to ph your water to make it more acidic, add fresh lemon juice!

[@BlazRa]

If you can get access to hemp or weed plants the leaves also make great tea it has often a very earthy Botanical taste that can differ depending on what type of weed

[@mark2ui]

theyve been doing tests on tea bags and found pesticides that are banned in the usa,australia and uk on the leaves im looking at having my own tea leaves

[@BlazRa]

Pro tip for all you tea drinkers when the honey gets really really low just add a shot of boiling water and shake it up and keep it in the fridge till you use it all😋

[@poppyb.4255]

Maybe someone knows, can tea tolerate frost? Ilive in zone 8b, Florida panhandle. Some winters we can see temps in the mid 20s, and some winters we dont even get a frost. Could i plant tea on the southern side of my house in partial shade?

[@psalmone8953]

John, I just built a 2 foot raised bed, now I'm looking for good fill dirt for vegetable garden, any recommendations?

[@freethinker8047]

I love nutrition as well as gardening info. I live in Michigan.... Appreciate and have many of the same passions and perspectives as you :) If you don't mind...I'm curious about your age now (2018), and how many years you've had a predominately plant-based diet ? I've changed my diet significantly in the past 1-2 years, and have definitely recovered significantly from chronic fatigue. I'm hoping by September to improve greatly after consuming my own produce.

[@specialeducationteachermrs5118]

The tea farm in Oroville, CA was destroyed in the “Camp fire” in the end of 2018! 😢

[@mhuntert]

Hi John. You're awesome. Can you show us how to make the tea? Do you have to dry it?

[@AhNee]

Depends on what kind of tea you want, whether it's new, tender growth, or slightly older (old, tough leaves aren't very good). White tea is usually the newest, most tender growth, a little older is dried for green tea, or fermented for black tea. You can likely find information or videos for it.

[@briannamccullough5423]

How do you feel about Japanese Matcha after the meltdown. I loved my matcha lattes but still feel unsatisfied by the Sieverts counts.

[@BlackCat_2]

I have read so much that commercially available tea (esp. from China) has lead in the leaves. I really don't like that but I read that when brewing most of the lead stays in the leaves. I wish all of it did. I wouldn't recommend eating tea leaves unless you know where it comes from/lead content. Growing it yourself would be okay as long as you know what is in the soil. I love black and green tea - especially iced - and this time of year more since we are up over 100 some days and it will get hotter until the end of August. I may have to see about getting some of those plants and learn how to dry my own tea. - Heidi

[@kiraPh1234k]

This generalizes to "commercially grown produce" - or really anything that is alive and part of a complex food chain. The plants take the metals from the soil, the animals take them from the plants.

[@StudioTrev813]

So how about a mobile garden i can pull behind a skoolie.

[@Alex-kr7zr]

Probably attracts even more heavy metals and other stuff you don't want in your food/tea than a garden next to a highway.

[@angelaprimus7771]

Hi . I enjoy all your videos. M y question is, can the moringa tree survived the cold climate areas. I live in Brooklyn, New York. I'm from the Caribbean, & I know the tree as a little child growing up, but never knew how valuable it was until now.

[@Skashoon]

No, they won’t survive, unless in a greenhouse.

[@plantgurugangsta7299]

Are tea bags really a good pesticide? Or ive heard putting old tea bags in water and spray on leaves? Is anyone familiar with this? Does anyone know if it matters what kind? I have a blueberry green tea and it smells sweet, I fear it attracting pests...

[@こかする]

I love your enthusiasm

[@shelbylynn09100]

We just bought green tea seeds from China early this last spring and started growing them. IDK if they have the potential of being hazardous? I tried looking it up on Google with no luck, I sure wish I could ask you John. The plants look healthy but we haven't tried them yet or anything.

[@llama9274]

you cna ask him on his webstie he will call u for $5

[@growingyourgreens]

As long as the seeds you got were in fact Camellia Sinensis, I wouldn't worry so much about it. Im not a super huge fan of things Grown in China, but sometimes it can be the best option, but usually my last one.

[@arthurleslie9669]

I've heard that the highest quality actually come from Japan. Your thoughts on this?

[@veiledmaid4029]

If the plant is from any Camellia seed, you can eat the leaves raw, or make tea from it. All camellias can be made into tea. The difference is flavor. A few people were complaining about dried tea losing benefits... you do not have to dry tea to drink it. Blend it with coconut gel or almond milk, a little date, or sugar cane, some fresh citrus, and see how kick ass raw tea can be ;) fermentation will cause other benefits, and great flavor; but there is a whole world of flavor to discover from fresh green camellia leaves.

[@llama9274]

Do you add and IMO to your mix?

[@thebunnyfoofoo]

Can you use a hose with a Boogie Brew water filter to water the plants? Would that keep soil acidic?

[@growingyourgreens]

No, that filter does not filter metals in any large way.

[@randellzirkle2784]

How much is it to buy tea

[@ryanjohnson282]

Great work! Enjoy your vids. Keep up the good work

[@bcmasur]

quick story... I'd love to grow my own, of course! but, I've been getting tea bags from Japan on eBay.. basically they're just buying feedback, but it's a good trade-off when you can get them for $0.01 sometimes. Even at $0.10 per bag that's still cheaper than the cheap stuff on store shelves, and seems like better quality, bigger bags... can't wait to get growing.

[@kiraPh1234k]

I know this is an old comment, but I'd also like to share my story of some of my favorite tea I buy whole loose leaf teas now, and I particularly like Dragonwell tea as a daily tea. It costs me $1.25 per oz, which gives me 28g. That gives me 7 4g sessions (about $0.21/session). That session gives me 8 good steepings in 150ml of liquid, which is about 16 75ml cups of tea at significantly less than $0.02/cup Westerners may like more tea than that but are also used to weaker tea but even still if they drank 3 servers as one it would be roughly 6 ozs of liquid and still less than $0.04-0.05/cup. What I'm getting at is that very nice quality tea is often comparable and even competitive to supermarket tea bags.

[@peakpich3619]

I want to grow in my own country, but I do not know how to find out how to grow and maintain good hygiene and how to buy tea seeds, please help me.

[@thanhhoale3886]

I love the taste and the flavor of fresh tea leaves.

[@williamholleman4985]

John I know your busy but I am wanting to know if youv'e tried that ocean solutions product or the brand at Lowe's Alaskan fish fertillizer.Thanks

[@liliuokalani7064]

Hey John, Would you do a video about the red hibiscus tea plant and it's health benefits? Thank you for all of your knowledge~

[@rileyyoung4762]

Hibiscus isn't actually a tea plant, it's a completely different species

[@evapena100]

Tank you very much Dear John. Very useful information. God Bless You.

[@leandrocruz9513]

Thank you for your Info

[@michaelmurray5619]

pine needles particularly as mulch do not acidify the soil per UC Davis science based studies.

[@GinchyGirlCreatesAndGardens]

Soooo cool ! Im an avid tea drinker !!! I just might be ordering very soon ~~~ Thank you !~

[@Blackmark52]

Climate and elevation are just a couple of important aspects of growing tea that most people don't have any control over even if they live in an area that generally has favourable conditions for the plants. Then there's the hugely important factors of harvesting and processing. I would be a mistake to think that just because you can get the plant to grow that the tea you produce will be worth drinking.

[@yoshi-is7fv]

Thanks for the info. Was wondering if these tea plants have less fluoride than the ones you buy at the grocery store?

[@montanalivin8248]

John, can you pollinate female zucchini flowers once the flower has closed?

[@saraclark7441]

Can you suggest a place to buy red raspberry leaf tea?

[@AhNee]

Google.

[@lestershinglesnack9210]

So happy I found this channel

[@Forever_Elegant]

Could you please turn on your captions? Thanks!

[@gladtidings4all]

John who cuts your hair??

[@angelgarcia4848]

This is was incredibly informative. Great job focusing the benefit of the Cameilla plant. This video motivated me to bust this nursery one day. Thank you for creating this video!

[@greeninitiatives]

You are awesome, thanks for all the time you spend.

[@kapppz]

Freshes always besses?

[@pipefitters1]

Where can I get tea seeds?

[@chelsieonipa3120]

,is there matcha plant in Philippines? Pls rply, 🙏🙏🙏

[@enzorocha2977]

There is. It's called the _camellia sinensis filipiniasis_ or commonly known as _matchanurin_ 😂

[@dennisnielsen2842]

Nice video but a guy in a different video about tea bushes said a ph neutral soil at about 7 and that they did not like a soil with a high levelof acidity - im a bit confused now. well im just gonna go with some 6-6,5 ph soil with peat moss and perlite mixed in it then - see what happens i guess.

[@AspergersversusNeurotypicals]

I understand green and white tea is Camellia sinensis sinensis, whereas black, oolong and pu-erh tea is camellia senensis assamica. May we assume you're bought the green tea variety css, and not csa?

[@natconnatigy6423]

Do you sell raw green tea whole leaves. I’d like to purchase some. Thank you.

[@climbers1376]

Great comment about the Boston tea party

[@dieyen6637]

do you know where i can buy seeds or seedlings?

[@AhNee]

The nursery in the video, and someone has a link a few comments down.

[@robind8155]

Really want to grow star fruit in CA and yangmei myrica rubra

[@westronic]

Always wondered about growing tea plants. Thanks for the video!

[@tyliful]

been looking for a place locally, thanks for sharing.

[@randellzirkle2784]

Would love to grow my own tea

[@christopherhorn5274]

MIgardener says tea plants do not like acid, and prefer pH 7. But I trust you more.

[@johnbaudino2535]

Very cool good job brother

[@graycious3]

I so enjoy your videos. Thank you for postings

[@phuongduong6621]

Thanks for all good imformation

[@mr.blackculture8111]

Always interesting knowledge

[@gvas7560]

Thanks for sharing John. Great video, invaluable information. Please keep up the good work. God bless you.

[@kiraPh1234k]

L-thianine is in more than just tea. But yes it's primarily found in plants and fungi, not animals.

[@Judemc]

does he ever say the price?

[@Lgabriel217]

$16

[@xshanghu]

Great video!!!

[@richlaue]

Most people will not have the room to grow enough plants for a high grade yea. I'm not hooking to mention the knowledge to process the plant or that the plant will not grow well in all places. Also what is in the ground will affect the final taste and quality of the final drink v

[@ZachUngar]

awesome video

[@susanortega2057]

THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION!!!!!

[@lanalonadier4048]

Thx

[@ragheadand420roll]

thx john

[@lisagarrett6966]

John, you are sweet and smart. Thankyou for all your valuable information.!!!!