Tea roses, or Rosa indica fragrans, reached Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. Originally they came from China (Canton). There the dried flowers were added to tea blends for their sweet scent, which eventually led to their name.
The pastel-coloured flowers with their very pleasant fragrance still enchant lovers of this class of roses. Tea roses were used for many breeds after their introduction in Europe and played a significant role in the modern tea hybrid.
