Are camellia sinensis vegan?

Camellia sinensis is the Latin botanical name for the tea plant, an evergreen shrub native to East Asia. Leaves and buds harvested from this plant are processed through varying stages of withering, rolling, oxidation, and drying to produce green, black, white, and oolong teas. Beyond brewed teas, extracts and powders derived from Camellia sinensis are commonly listed as ingredients in ready-to-drink beverages, energy drinks, baked goods, confectionery, and personal care products.

Camellia sinensis is vegan because it is exclusively of plant origin. The agricultural cultivation, harvesting, and standard extraction methods rely entirely on botanical matter and physical processes such as water extraction or milling. Since no animal ingredients or animal-derived processing aids are involved in its production, Camellia sinensis is inherently free from animal sources.