Camellia Seed You Cha Zi Whole Dried Seeds 500g Bulk Stock

Camellia Seed, known in Chinese as You Cha Zi (油茶籽), is the dried seed of Camellia oleifera, an oil-bearing tea tree cultivated in southern China. These whole seeds are harvested from the new crop and simply air-dried, keeping their natural hard shell and oily kernel. In traditional Chinese practice, camellia seeds are valued as a culinary oilseed and folk botanical. Store in a cool dry place and use as a food ingredient.

Key Selling Points

• Whole dried seeds of Camellia oleifera, the oil tea camellia
• Chinese name You Cha Zi (油茶籽), a classic southern Chinese oilseed
• New-crop seeds finished by simple sun and air drying
• Sold as a raw edible agricultural product in bulk quantity
• Suitable for oil pressing, culinary projects, and traditional folk preparations

Quality & Sensory

Typically round to teardrop-shaped seeds with a hard brown outer shell and pale oily kernel inside. They have a mild nutty, slightly astringent aroma, and the kernel typically tastes rich and oily with a faintly bitter note when cracked or pressed.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Cold-press or hot-press at home to extract camellia seed oil
• Crack and roast kernels for traditional culinary use
• Grind into meal for folk food recipes
• Keep as a raw ingredient for seasonal kitchen projects

Traditional Uses

In folk tradition, camellia seeds have long been collected in autumn and winter, sun-dried, and pressed into fragrant camellia oil, a staple cooking oil in southern Chinese households. The seeds were also traditionally cracked and roasted for snacking or ground for rustic recipes. In TCM understanding, oilseed crops like this are regarded as nourishing everyday foods rather than strong medicinal herbs, and they are commonly stored whole until pressing time.

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