Hi I currently have raised 10 camellia sinensis from seed and i have a few plants that did the i just kind of removed them and pinching them from the stem but leaving the node for a new branch or leaf to appear. i didn't really research what causes it but its not that worry some as when i pinch mine they never came back. Then a gain i also make sure i water with High acidic PHed water of about 5.4 to 6.4 so they grow evenly and profusely. Check out my youtube videos if interested about hearing some of my tips.

Here is a link that might be useful: TheItalian Garden

Thanks. so far I have only removed the offending leaves.
Some that i had died from sunburn came back from the seed. So there is some hope.
But I still wouldn't ever take the growing tip off on purpose... just too much risk.

Surprised you knew they were tea plants! :)

Maybe you have a case of camellia edema, caused by too much watering. You can see it occur on both sides of a leaf. If so, it is a normal response to having excess water. Do a search for "camellia edema". Reduce watering (nothing you can do about rain three times a week though) and/or maybe give more sun to help the soil dry out a tad faster by evaporation from sunlight. I do not think the leaves recover but they should be replaced by the shrub in a few seasons. Or, you can cut them like you said/did.

This post was edited by luis_pr on Fri, Aug 8, 14 at 5:15

There is actually very little risk in topping plants growing tips. If you have one plant to spare and want a nice big bushy plant try it out you will see what i am talking about. Its very effective for all plants. And from a years worth of trying it with all diffrent types of veggies and ortimentals it works great! Never had a dead plant from it.

Of course they will branch out on their own just slower. As well as branching faster topping forces more energy back into the trunk system which makes a bigger root structure and thicker stem. I have videos showing this on my link.
My plants are only about as old as yours are.

the image at the end of your post appears to show camellia leaf gall. by removing the affected leaves, you are eliminating the spore phase of the fungal disease that causes the deformations. these spores can become windborne and blow in from nearby infected plants.

Here is a link that might be useful: camellia leaf gall information