I can't help from personal experience but here are instructions from a reputable supplier

Camellia sinensis Seeds £3.95 from Chiltern Seeds - Chiltern Seeds Secure Online Seed Catalogue and Shop https://share.google/9Lo0MT5qGgfBQURFr

You want to be sure your seeds are genuine and good quality. There seem to be a lot of on line sellers and they are often little short of scammers. Make sure your seed is from a good source.

Thanks Floral for the info. I had warm water soaked the seeds 24hrs prior before planting. I do understand it takes months for sprouts. It is possible the seeds I received from a friend are just too old, from 2023. I will try again with fresher seeds.

Well, I was going to respond, but I thought you were talking about the New Jersey Tea plant Ceanothus americanus. Sorry I can't help, but I have two of the Ceanothus plants. ;-)

Any chance you can get some cuttings from your friend? That would be a very easy way to propagate new plants.....probably much easier than from seed.

Cuttings would be very nice, but unfortunately the seeds were extras from a previous trade.