Jasmine tea generally refers to a teathat has been scented with jasmine flowers or flavorings. It is usually made with green tea and is not an herbal tea.
Types of Jasmine Tea
Although the most common type of jasmine tea is jasmine green tea, jasmine white tea, jasmine oolong, and jasmine black tea also exist. In some cases, these variations are simply jasmine-flavored teas, while in other cases they are more elaborate blends, such as dessert teas.
In addition to tea type, jasmine teas are also differentiated by the leaves used to make them and their shapes. Different jasmine green teas are made with different grades of green tea. The best are made with a large ratio of tea buds to tea leaves. These will have a subtle, more delicate flavor than teas made with larger leaves and fewer buds.
Some jasmine teas are left as basic loose-leaf teas and some are cut up to be put into tea bags. Others are shaped into different forms. The most common of these is the so-called "jasmine pearl," a pea-sized, rolled set of two buds and often a leaf. Another popular shape is a spherical flowering tea with a jasmine flower in the middle.
How Jasmine Tea Is Scented
Traditional jasmine green tea is harvested, made into green tea, stored until the jasmine flower harvest, and then scented during a multi-day process. There are two ways the tea can be scented with jasmine.
In the more laborious and expensive method, fresh jasmine flowers are placed on a tray below a woven tray of tea leaves in a warm room. The jasmine flowers are replaced often, at great expense, to give the tea an ethereal, light aroma and flavor. Then, the tea is dried and packaged to be sold.
In the second, cheaper method of making jasmine green tea with real jasmine flowers, the leftover, wilted flowers from the first process are mixed in with green tea leaves, allowed to impart their scent, and then separated out from the tea before the tea is dried and packaged. Sometimes a few jasmine flowers will remain in the tea when it is sold.
Some jasmine green teas are flavored with natural jasmine essential oil, jasmine natural flavor, artificial jasmine flavor, or a mix of flower flavors. Although real jasmine essential oil is extremely expensive (it's one of the most expensive essential oils in the world), this flavor-scented style of jasmine green tea is considered to be inferior to the traditional jasmine green tea.
Jasmine Tea and Health
Generally speaking, jasmine tea is only as healthy as the tea used to make it was before it was flavored. However, there is some added benefit in terms of the jasmine's relaxing scent, which researchers found was akin to the lavender's relaxing scent in terms of lowering heart rate. Additionally, jasmine flavoring may entice people to drink it more often than unflavored tea, and a tea you drink is much healthier for you than a tea that sits in your cupboard. Some people also claim that jasmine acts as an aphrodisiac... and just when you thought tea was tame!
Please note that there is some danger associated with drinking large quantities of jasmine tea during pregnancy and that jasmine tea is best drunk in moderation. Also, while jasmine tea (like many other tea types) is claimed to increase metabolism, it is best to avoid drinking it on an empty stomach, as it is somewhat acidic and can cause stomach discomfort.
Making and Drinking Jasmine Tea
Jasmine tea is usually best steeped with filtered water that is around 190 F (simmering, not boiling)—three minutes is usually plenty. About one teaspoon per cup of loose-leaf jasmine tea is good, but you can use less tea or more water if you are brewing jasmine pearls (which only take a few pearls per cup) or jasmine flowering tea (one "flower" is enough for a large mug or whole pot of tea).
When drinking jasmine tea, be sure to enjoy its soothing aroma and soft aftertaste. If the aftertaste is astringent or cloying, try a different jasmine tea, lower your steeping temperature, or shorten your steeping time. A good quality, well-steeped jasmine tea should be light and clean, with an aroma and aftertaste like a fine perfume.
Jasmine tea pairs very well with many foods, so feel free to experiment with jasmine tea pairings.
FAQs
May strengthen your immune system. The all-powerful antioxidants in jasmine tea can help support your immune system by fighting bacteria and infections. As well as this, the tea has anti-inflammatory properties, so it can help reduce pain and prevent general damage to your body.
What does jasmine tea do for the body? ›
May strengthen your immune system. The all-powerful antioxidants in jasmine tea can help support your immune system by fighting bacteria and infections. As well as this, the tea has anti-inflammatory properties, so it can help reduce pain and prevent general damage to your body.
What are 5 benefits of jasmine? ›
Jasmine has been used for liver disease (hepatitis), pain due to liver scarring (cirrhosis), and abdominal pain due to severe diarrhea (dysentery). It is also used to prevent stroke, to cause relaxation (as a sedative), to heighten sexual desire (as an aphrodisiac), and in cancer treatment.
Why do Chinese drink jasmine tea? ›
Cultural uses. In southern China, it is customary to serve Jasmine tea as a welcoming gesture to guests. Jasmine tea is the local tea beverage of Fuzhou, while jasmine flowers are its municipal flower. Jasmine has symbolic meanings in the Chinese culture.
Who should not drink jasmine tea? ›
If you have high blood pressure, kidney or liver problems, stomach ulcers or anxiety, the caffeine in jasmine tea is more likely to cause side effects. It also interacts with some medications, so see your doctor before drinking jasmine tea if you're on any prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
Is it OK to drink jasmine tea everyday? ›
Jasmine tea and other green teas are safe for most people to drink in amounts up to 8 cups a day. However, there are still some possible risks. Green tea contains oxalates, compounds found in many plants.
Does jasmine tea detox your body? ›
Jasmine is considered one of the best flowers for weight loss. It posses the same diuretic properties as many other teas, which wash toxins out of the body quickly, helping to burn fat faster. On top of that, it contains epigallocatechin and gallic acid, which are know to speed up metabolism.
Does jasmine balance hormones? ›
Jasmine oil can regulate period cycles, balancing the hormones in the body. This results in a less painful period. When the menstrual cycle is regulated, menopause is pushed back. For years, it has been used to ease the symptoms of menopause such as headaches and hot flashes.
Does jasmine tea make you sleepy? ›
Does jasmine tea help you sleep? Jasmine contains soothing, stress-relieving properties that can help you unwind. However, most jasmine tea blends still contain caffeine, meaning that this tea may not be the best choice if you're trying to fall asleep.
Does jasmine help with anxiety? ›
Jasmine's scent directly impacts a brain/central nervous system chemical known as GABA, which results in the calming of the nerves, a soothing of anxiety/mild depression, and the facilitating of rest.
What is the healthiest tea? Green tea will get you “the most bang for your buck” when it comes to nutritional benefits, Crumble Smith said. It has better antioxidant properties than black tea because it contains more polyphenols. Green tea contains several types of catechins, a group of flavonoid compounds.
Is jasmine tea better than green tea? ›
Since jasmine tea is not much different from green tea, except the scent added to it, the benefits are pretty much the same. Jasmine tea adds the aspect of relieving stress but if jasmine scent is added to a caffeinated tea, it won't be of much use.
Is jasmine tea anti-inflammatory? ›
Jasmine tea has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce pains and aches linked with joint pain and arthritis. A study performed by the American College of Rheumatology found that epigallocatechin gallate in jasmine tea blocks inflammation triggered by rheumatoid arthritis.
Why do I feel sick after drinking jasmine tea? ›
Caffeine Jitters
Like other caffeinated drinks, consuming too much jasmine tea could cause symptoms like anxiety, jitters, headache, nausea, restlessness, increased heart rate or trouble sleeping.
Is jasmine tea a laxative? ›
Jasmine tea is also a natural laxative that can help relieve constipation. It contains senna, an herbal compound that stimulates the muscles in the intestinal wall, promoting bowel movement and preventing constipation.
Is it OK to drink jasmine tea at night? ›
While jasmine tea does include a little caffeine depending on your tea base, pouring yourself a cup a few hours before bed can be a good addition to your bedtime routine. The scent of the jasmine blossom encourages a parasympathetic nervous system response which can help the body to relax and the mind to slow down.
Is jasmine tea good for your stomach? ›
Jasmine Herbal Tea for Improved Digestion
This is because of its antispasmodic properties, which can relieve indigestion and stomach cramps. Some home remedies use Jasmine Flowers for the prevention of gastric ulcers, too, as well as to ease harmful bacteria in the gastrointestinal system.
Does jasmine tea make you sleepy or awake? ›
Jasmine tea is a natural relaxant for the mind and body. Jasmine is known to have a calming effect on the nervous system, improving restlessness, irritability, and insomnia. The scent of Jasmine can be a more effective sedative than sleeping pills. Jasmine tea is also known to ease muscle tension.
Is jasmine tea better for you than green tea? ›
Since jasmine tea is not much different from green tea, except the scent added to it, the benefits are pretty much the same. Jasmine tea adds the aspect of relieving stress but if jasmine scent is added to a caffeinated tea, it won't be of much use.
Is jasmine tea good for your skin? ›
Jasmine Tea Benefits For Skin
Pure Jasmine tea can keep natural stressors at bay, helping you maintain clear skin. The natural oil present in it brings you the gift of an even skin tone. It works wonders for dry or delicate skin! The polyphenols destroy free radicals which cause wrinkles and skin damage.
