Tea-oil Camellia

The seeds of Camellia oleifera can be pressed to yield tea seed oil, a sweetish seasoning and cooking oil. In tea seed oil, oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid comprises ~80% of the total fatty acid content - the oil is similar in composition to olive oil. After the tea seed oil is extracted, the seed itself still serves a purpose. The Camellia oil cake is used as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Tea oil is also known as "tea seed oil" when sold as cooking oil in supermarkets throughout Australia, New Zealand and the United States. It can also be used in textile manufacture, in soap making and, when burned in an oil lamp, as a source of light. Camellia oil is also traditionally used to protect Japanese woodworking tools and cutlery from corrosion and is currently sold for that purpose.