The effects of thiamine-HCl or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on growth and catechin contents of calli from Camellia sinensis leaves were investigated to improve catechin productivity in callus cultures on the selective medium. The growth of calli was great on the proliferation medium (the MS medium with 0.2 mg/L 2,4-D and 1.0 mg/L TDZ) supplemented with $20{sim}30;mg/L$ thiamine-HCl. Although the caffeine content was low in calli compared to young leaves, the total content of catechins was high in calli. Particularly,(-)-epicatechin (EC) which not detected in young loaves was also detected in calli on the propagation medium containing thiamine-HCl or PVP. In addition, the (-)-epicatechingallate (ECG) content was significantly higher in calli than in young leaves. In conclusion, the proliferation medium supplemented with 30 mg/L thiamine-HCl as a vitamin source seemed to be optimal condition for the growth and catechin production in callus culture.