The fresh pale pink blooms of Camellia sasanqua in the Japanese Tea Garden in Shoyoen, Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden will form a very appropriate backdrop to the celebration of 25 years of Sister City relations between Minokamo, Japan and Dubbo later this month.
The evergreen Camellia sasanqua is a small tree native to China and Japan with glossy dark green leaves. The delicate flowers are 5–7 cm in diameter with 5-8 petals. Colours vary from white to dark pink petals.
In Japanese, the word “sasanqua” is written with three Kanji characters meaning “mountain”, “tea” and “flower”.
Camellia sasanqua has a long history of cultivation in Japan, for practical rather than decorative reasons. The seeds formed the basis of a thriving industry long before there were any written records.
Prior to the use of oil from whales and fossil fuels, the oil from the Camellia seeds was used for lighting, lubrication, and above all, for cooking and cosmetic purposes. The oil is still used to protect the finest of samurai swords from corrosion.
Camellia oil has a higher calorific content than any other edible oil available naturally in Japan. However, it is difficult and time consuming to extract which has made it very hard for the Camellia oil industry in Japan to compete with sunflower, corn and other imported oils.
Like its famous cousin Camellia sinensis which is widely cultivated to produce the familiar beverage of tea, the leaves of Camellia sasanqua can also be used to make tea.
The rich colours of autumn are often associated with fulfilment and wisdom whereas flowers by their nature are precursors to new life. In this manner, Shoyoen becomes a metaphor for the anniversary of 25 years of Sister City relations between Minokamo and Dubbo – a celebration of an enriching past and a fresh commitment to future friendship.
By Ian McAlister & Karen Hagan