Camellia sinensis cultivar Wannong 85
The ideal tea plant for green tea and matcha
Experience the fascination of tea cultivation right at home, on your balcony, or in your garden with the Wannong 85 tea plant from Growing Karma. This special variety is characterized by its excellent quality and versatility and comes from carefully selected seeds from China's renowned tea-growing regions. Its robust adaptability makes it the perfect choice for the Central European climate. With Wannong 95, you get a tea plant that not only impresses with its flavor, but also creates a unique connection to the tradition of tea cultivation – right in your home.
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Your start in your own tea cultivation
You'll receive a strong, healthy Camellia sinensis Wannong 85 tea plant – grown from seed, already 15 to 30 cm tall and ready to grow in your home. Whether on your balcony, in your garden, or on your windowsill, this plant is the perfect introduction for anyone who wants to grow and experience their own tea. Each plant is unique – carefully cultivated and ready to take root in your everyday life.
Grown from seed – stronger, more independent, longer-lasting
Unlike quickly grown cuttings, this tea plant is grown from seed. This means it is more robust, adapts better to its environment, and will accompany you for many years. The Wannong 85 variety was specially selected for temperate climates—ideal for your tea garden in Central Europe.
How to care for your tea plant properly
With your purchase, you also receive access to a digital care guide —available at any time. It tells you how to adjust the location, watering, substrate, and fertilization so your plant thrives optimally. And with the right organic fertilizer, you can specifically support its growth—for a strong plant and aromatic leaves. We publish useful tips in our blog under the "Care and Maintenance" section.
Green tea or black tea? You decide.
Once your plant has grown well, you can regularly harvest leaves and process them yourself – depending on your technique, into green or black tea. The taste? Fresh, grassy, and slightly sweet for green tea – or smooth and full-bodied for black tea. And best of all: You know exactly where your tea comes from.
Growing Karma – more than just plants
Every plant you receive from us comes from our own nursery – with experience in biodynamic tea cultivation in Germany. Wannong 85 stands for diversity, quality, and a respectful approach to nature and time. You're not getting a mass-produced product here, but the first step into a new chapter.
Image similar - each plant is unique :-)
Your own tea plant
Characteristics
After a long search, we obtained the Wannong 85 seeds from an organic farmer. While this cultivar is typically known for warmer regions, Growing Karma's field trials have shown that this cultivar, in particular, thrives in our climate. Wannong 85 is a true discovery for us and an important addition to our Camellia sinensis range, contributing to the diversity of our plants. Our tea plants reach winter hardiness after 3 to 4 years and can tolerate temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius. The Wannong 85 cultivar is particularly easy to care for, but it does require occasional watering during the winter months to stay healthy.
Why our tea plants?
This tea plant combines elegance with functionality and will become a highlight in your garden or home. It allows you to harvest fresh, aromatic tea directly. Thanks to its easy care and robustness, it is suitable for both beginners and experienced tea lovers who appreciate the pleasure of homegrown tea and the special connection to nature. It is also visually appealing with its lush green leaves, which add a touch of exclusivity to any setting.
You can find suitable fertilizers here: Fertilizer
Two varieties, one goal: Real tea from our own garden
There are moments when you feel like it's time to start something of your own. With our tea plant starter kit, you lay the foundation for your very own tea garden. The two varieties included— Longjing 43 and Wannong 85 —are among the most proven tea plants in the world and thrive even in our latitudes.
Longjing 43 & Wannong 85 – Green tea, as you want to harvest it yourself
The Longjing 43 is known for its delicate, light green leaves with a subtle sweetness – ideal for fresh, light green tea. Its slow growth promotes a concentrated aroma that unfolds immediately upon first brew. The Wannong 85, on the other hand, is robust, versatile, and provides excellent leaf material for green tea or slightly oxidized oolong styles. Both plants were specifically selected for cooler climates and cope well with the wind, rain, and soil conditions of Central Europe.
Grow naturally – with sheep’s wool and BioBizz
Along with your tea plants, you'll get everything they need for a healthy start: 1 liter of raw sheep's wool provides your plants with long-term nitrogen, keeps the soil loose, and stores water exactly where it's needed—at the roots. For an extra dose of energy, a 250 ml bottle of BioBizz Fish Mix is also included. This organic, fish-based liquid fertilizer supports root formation and leaf growth in a completely natural way.
Here you will find our digital care instructions and a link to our blog where we publish useful tips under the heading "Care and Maintenance" .
Directly from Growing Karma Permaculture
Our Camellia sinensis grows in nutrient-rich soils of Growing Karma permaculture—far from monocultures, pesticides, and overfertilization. Each plant was nurtured with patience, skilled craftsmanship, and a genuine understanding of nature. Longjing 43 and Wannong 85 are not just plants—they express an attitude: Tea doesn't have to travel halfway around the world to be good.
Start your tea garden adventure
You don't need a hillside garden or a greenhouse in Kyoto – a pot on your balcony or a sunny bed in the garden is enough. With this kit, you're not just growing tea, but also a sense of self-determination. And when you brew your own leaves for the first time, you'll know why this is a worthwhile path.
Start your own tea adventure now with the Growing Karma plant kit . What are you waiting for? The Longjing 43 & Wannong 85 are ready to take root in your home!
Contents:
- one healthy tea plant each: Longjing 43 & Wannong 85
- 1L raw sheep's wool
- 250ml BioBizz Fish Mix
Background and interesting facts
Learn more about Wannong 85
Origin and history
Wannong 85 originates from the southwestern province of Yunnan in China, considered one of the regions of origin of Camellia sinensis. Perfect conditions for the cultivation of high-quality tea varieties. Yunnan is known for its long tradition of tea cultivation and its role as the birthplace of many famous teas.
Wannong 85 was first mentioned and cultivated in the 1930s. The cultivar was specifically optimized for cultivation in regions with fluctuating climatic conditions and has since established itself as one of the preferred varieties for the production of green tea and matcha. Today, Wannong 85 is prized in both commercial tea plantations and private gardens worldwide.
Features of Wannong 85
The Wannong 85 is a robust and versatile cultivar ideal for cultivation on tea farms like Growing Karma, but equally thrives in home gardens or on balconies. This plant prefers slightly acidic soils (pH 5.5–6.5) and sunny to partially shaded locations with well-drained soil. The strong, rich green leaves of the Wannong 85 are rich in amino acids like L-theanine and polyphenols like catechins, which are responsible for its distinctive flavor and well-known health benefits. Its adaptability and quality make it an excellent choice for all tea lovers.
Matcha from Wannong 85
The Wannong 85 cultivar impresses with its high concentration of gallic catechins , particularly EGCG, and a balanced combination of L-theanine and caffeine , which provide a creamy mouthfeel and a deep, umami-accented aroma. Wannong 85 is characterized by its low bitterness, producing a harmonious flavor with subtle, nutty, and slightly grassy notes. These outstanding properties make it an excellent choice for matcha production. The leaves impress not only with their full flavor, but also with their bright green color, which makes matcha from Wannong 85 a visual and gustatory highlight.
Cultivation for Matcha
To produce matcha, the tea plant is shaded for 20 to 30 days before harvest. This technique, known as kabuse cultivation , reduces photosynthesis and promotes the formation of chlorophyll and L-theanine . Chlorophyll gives matcha its intense green color, while L-theanine provides the characteristic mild flavor and velvety texture. After harvesting, the tender leaves are gently steamed, dried, and processed into tencha . Grinding on traditional granite stone mills creates a particularly fine powder. Matcha from Wannong 85 impresses with a balanced mixture of amino acids and polyphenols , which round off and refine the flavor.
use
Matcha and green tea from Wannong 85 has a wide range of uses: In addition to traditional tea preparation, you can use it for matcha lattes, smoothies, or baking. Its harmonious balance of sweetness and umami makes it a special ingredient. This cultivar also finds its purpose as a pure leaf in spicy sauces , chutneys , or even in the production of kombucha or yun . For adventurous connoisseurs, matcha from Longjing 43 can also be incorporated into traditional dishes or used as a sophisticated flavor in desserts like mousse and ice cream. Its exceptional quality and delicate flavor lend each recipe a unique, refined touch.
Wannong 85 for green tea?
The Wannong 85 cultivar is known for its excellent suitability for producing green tea. After harvesting, the leaves are gently steamed or traditionally pan-fried to prevent oxidation. The result is a tea with a bright green color, a delicate nutty flavor, and a pleasantly mild aroma. Green tea from Wannong 85 is also rich in antioxidants that support the immune system and neutralize free radicals. The high L-theanine content promotes concentration and has a relaxing effect—a perfect treat that combines energy and calm.