At the beginning of the
Edo period, cultivars of
Camellia sasanqua began appearing; the first record of the cultivars of this plant was made by Ihei Ito (1695–1733). The Japanese call it Sazanka (, ). This plant was not known in western society until in 1820 Captain Richard Rawes of the
East Indiaman Warren Hastings brought
Camellia sasanqua var.
stricata to his relation, Thomas Carey Palmer, of Bromley in Kent. Then in 1869, Dutch traders imported some specimens into Europe. It has now also been introduced to Australia, New Zealand and the United States. which is used for lighting, lubrication, cooking and cosmetic purposes. Tea oil has a higher calorific content than any other edible oil available naturally in Japan. 'Hugh Evans' and 'Jean May' have gained the
Royal Horticultural Society's
Award of Garden Merit. ==See also==