Plants in this family are characterized by simple leaves that are alternate spiral to distichous, serrated, and usually glossy.

Plants in Theaceae are multistaminate, usually with 20-100+ stamens either free or adnate to the base of the corolla, and are also distinctive because of the presence of pseudopollen.

[4][6] Eight genera are currently accepted:[1] The fossil Pentapetalum trifasciculandricus, about 91 million years old, may belong to the Theaceae or the Pentaphylacaceae.

Ellagic acid and common polyphenols including flavonols, flavones and proanthocyanins are widely distributed throughout the family.

Triterpenes and their glycosides (saponins) are found widely throughout the family in the seeds, leaves, wood and bark.

In parts of Asia, other species are used as a beverage, including C. taliensis, C. grandibractiata, C. kwangsiensis, C. gymnogyna, C. crassicolumna, C. tachangensis, C. ptilophylla, and C.