OBTAIN, PROPERTIES AND UTILIZATION OF CHINESE TEASEED OIL

Abstract

China is the greatest producer of teaseed oil. Chinese teaseed oil is obtained principally from Camellia oleifera, which grows widely in 17 provinces of South-China, rather than from Camellia sasanqua or Camellia sinensis, which is cultivated for tea. The teaseed oil production in China over the last five years was about 150000 tons per annum, and was obtained almost exclusively by pressing. The chemical and physical characteristics of Chinese teaseed oil are nearly identical with those of olive oil. Its principal use in China is as an edible oil. After catalytic hydrogenation however it may be used for the production of a cocoabutter substitute.