History

Camellia oil is an all-natural cooking oil originating in China with a history that goes back thousands of years. There are written records, which dates to 300 B.C. that describe camellia trees that provide cooking oil. Based on these records, camellia oil has over 2300 years of history.

In addition to its use as edible oil, camellia oil’s benefits include protecting hair, detoxification, sterilization and preserving longevity. Medicinal use of camellia oil can be traced back to the Han dynasty. From then on, camellia was dedicated to emperors and royal families. Luckily, people who live in oil production areas have the opportunity to use the oil themselves. They also use camellia oil topically and as medicine.

Before modern oil processing, people were using the most primitive method of pressing ---- They would dry the seeds, grind them into powder and then make tea cakes for pressing. Wooden tools were used to press and after the filtration and sedimentation processes, simple yet authentic camellia oil could finally be put on the table. Today, modern technology and equipment has gradually replaced traditional methods of oil extraction, but the traditional craft is still handed down through generations and is a constant reminder of the good ole times.

In some Chinese provinces, there are natural camellia trees thousands of years old scattered around the mountains. In southern provinces at an altitude of 380 meters above sea level, there are camellia trees that are more than 1,200 years old in between the rocks.

Records show that people started using camellia oil for uses other than cooking in the beginning of the Han dynasty (202-220 AD). They used it topically in their hair and on their faces, medicinally as an anti-inflammatory, and as an anti-aging agent. Camellia oil reflects the ancient Chinese food and health culture, carrying more than 2,000 years of history in civilization.