The tea olive bush is a big shrub reaching some 20 feet tall and up to 8 feet wide. Its leaves are dark green with smooth edges, while the flowers covering the shrub in winter, autumn and early spring are white with a four-lobed corolla. Individually, they are inconspicuous and small, yet the fragrance is exquisite and powerful. Tea olive bushes are usually slow-growing, long-living plants native to some parts of Asia. Generally these trees prefer reasonably good soil, but are quite adaptable with the exception of the poor sandy soil.

While growing the plant, particular attention should be attached to light conditions: morning sun with afternoon shade or sun to partial shade is ideal. Highly valued for their beautiful flowers with strong fragrance, tea olive bushes are usually planted in outdoor sitting areas, near windows and doors. In areas where it is tender, the tree must be grown as a container specimen, so that it can be well protected indoors during winter. In China the plant is known as xi, while its flowers, gui hua, are infused with black or green tea leaves to create an extremely flavorful tea known as gui hua cha. The flowers of the tea olive bush are also used in Chinese cuisine to produce soups, sweet cakes and osmanthus-scented jam.

For more than 3,000 years olive leaf extract has been regarded as an ideal means for managing blood pressure and improving health and general well-being. In addition to being delicious, olive leaf tea is beneficial to health, due to its ability to inactivate harmful microorganisms, including a variety of funguses, bacteria and viruses. Powerful properties of olive leaf tea are similar to those of green tea, yerba mate, rooibos, Echinacea and more. This tea is a caffeine-free organic antioxidant, which has proven effective in lowering blood pressure, improving skin health and reducing cholesterol levels.

Like the oil, the olive tree leaves boast significant anti-aging and antioxidant qualities which can be of health benefit to people. In the way they act, they are similar to antibiotics, however, unlike the latter which kill bacteria without strengthening the immune system, olive leaves balance all the systems within the human body in the most natural way. The benefits of the olive leaves can be observed with the herb and powder tea, enjoying wide popularity all over the world. There are some mentions in the Bible concerning the trees healing properties, and the people who stick to the Mediterranean diet consider olive leaf tea to be a powerful natural healer.

As compared to the recognized favorite - green tea, olive leaf tea is antioxidant stronger and more effective in fighting flue, cold and other bacteria and viruses, boosting energy and lowering blood pressure. It has also been reported to enhance significantly the immune system, acting as an internal cleanser and an anti-viral and anti-bacterial antioxidant, reducing blood sugar and lowering fats. No wonder it is strongly recommended for health and general well-being.

You can choose from loose tea, powder, tea bags and capsules.