Well, you learn something different every day.
Was just out taking my morning walk, having my coffee, letting Scarlett, our GSD puppy, run out some of her energy, when I passed by the old camellia trees. I had to do a double take because it looked like they were loaded in green granny smith apples. I walked up close and sure enough, loaded with small green apple sized "fruit" - larger than golf balls. I knew it must be seed pods but in all my life had never seen them nor knew they existed so I got on-line and looked it up. Yes, seed pods.
Here's what I learned - they can be used to propogate new camellia but won't necessarily flower true to form if the parent tree was a hybrid. Not sure what the parent trees are here but they are 50-100 years old. What was really interesting, (and if I'm boring you and you already know all this, I'm sorry but then you can answer my questions I'll have later) was the fact that the seeds can be pressed and the oil (also called tea oil) is very beneficial as a skin oil, hair oil, or can be used as a cooking oil, is high in good cholesterol, reduces the bad, high in omega...the list went on and on. Apparently the Japanese suma wrestlers use it in their hair as well as the geishas -this is what gives that shined look. The Japanese warriors, and metal workers, use it to oil their swords and metal pieces to prevent rust. The oil is also called tea oil and the tree comes from the same family that green tea comes from. Like I said, learn something new every day. I found it fascinating.
Here's my question - any of you ever tried pressing the seeds or have you ever used the oil? It is apparently sold as a cooking oil, hair oil, skin oil I had just never heard of it. How do you go about pressing the seeds? Do you harvest them while green or wait for the pod to dry and crack open as you would if you were going to plant the seeds?
I guess I'm interested in whether or not anyone has ever used the oil for any purpose and what you thought about it. I don't want to go through the trouble of harvesting all this "fruit" if it isn't worth the hype that's printed about it.
Oh well - that's my educational lesson for the day. Thanks for any tips.
Was just out taking my morning walk, having my coffee, letting Scarlett, our GSD puppy, run out some of her energy, when I passed by the old camellia trees. I had to do a double take because it looked like they were loaded in green granny smith apples. I walked up close and sure enough, loaded with small green apple sized "fruit" - larger than golf balls. I knew it must be seed pods but in all my life had never seen them nor knew they existed so I got on-line and looked it up. Yes, seed pods.
Here's what I learned - they can be used to propogate new camellia but won't necessarily flower true to form if the parent tree was a hybrid. Not sure what the parent trees are here but they are 50-100 years old. What was really interesting, (and if I'm boring you and you already know all this, I'm sorry but then you can answer my questions I'll have later) was the fact that the seeds can be pressed and the oil (also called tea oil) is very beneficial as a skin oil, hair oil, or can be used as a cooking oil, is high in good cholesterol, reduces the bad, high in omega...the list went on and on. Apparently the Japanese suma wrestlers use it in their hair as well as the geishas -this is what gives that shined look. The Japanese warriors, and metal workers, use it to oil their swords and metal pieces to prevent rust. The oil is also called tea oil and the tree comes from the same family that green tea comes from. Like I said, learn something new every day. I found it fascinating.
Here's my question - any of you ever tried pressing the seeds or have you ever used the oil? It is apparently sold as a cooking oil, hair oil, skin oil I had just never heard of it. How do you go about pressing the seeds? Do you harvest them while green or wait for the pod to dry and crack open as you would if you were going to plant the seeds?
I guess I'm interested in whether or not anyone has ever used the oil for any purpose and what you thought about it. I don't want to go through the trouble of harvesting all this "fruit" if it isn't worth the hype that's printed about it.
Oh well - that's my educational lesson for the day. Thanks for any tips.
