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
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 to your body? ›
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.
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 jasmine tea good for blood pressure? ›
Jasmine tea has a lot of health-boosting effects. Particularly, it may prevent cancer, promote cardiovascular activity, lower blood pressure and other benefits. Moreover, the flower itself can keep the scent for a long time, so it is loved by many people.
How many cups of jasmine tea can I drink a day? ›
It's recommended to drink around 2-3 cups of jasmine tea a day to get the best health benefits and to stir up your metabolism and encourage healthy weight loss. Any more than 2-3 cups and those who are sensitive to caffeine may find that they start to feel the effects more.
What does jasmine do for the body? ›
Jasmine is used on the skin to reduce the amount of breast milk, for skin diseases, and to speed up wound healing. Jasmine is inhaled to improve mood, reduce stress, and reduce food cravings. In foods, jasmine is used to flavor beverages, frozen dairy desserts, candy, baked goods, gelatins, and puddings.
Is jasmine tea good for kidneys? ›
As strange as it sounds, it has its benefits, including helping people with high blood pressure, heart failure, swollen tissues and kidney disease. Jasmine Flowers by themselves have little capacity to expel urine other than the obvious way of keeping you hydrated. White and Green Tea leaves, on the other hand, do.
Why do Chinese drink jasmine tea? ›
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.
Which is better, jasmine or green tea? ›
Health benefits of jasmine tea vs green tea
Both are packed with antioxidants that can lower the risk of cancer, boost your immune system, and promote skin and hair health. However, if you are drinking tea for relaxation and calming benefits, then jasmine tea is the best choice.
Does jasmine tea affect sleep? ›
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.
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.
What is the best tea for blood pressure and heart? ›
Like with green tea, research shows black tea can help reduce blood pressure,³ and it may also have properties that help protect the heart. Another meta-analysis⁴ shows that drinks made with Hibiscus sabdariffa L. also effectively lowered SBP and DBP.
Is jasmine tea good for circulation? ›
In Asia, jasmine tea is believed to help balance body heat, clear eyes, detox the liver, relax the body, improve circulation, lower cholesterol, improve digestion and fight off flu. With so many perceived health benefits and a great taste we can see why it's so popular!
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.
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.
Does jasmine tea affect hormones? ›
Jasmine flower has properties that balance the natural hormones in our bodies. Because of this, it has long been used to treat the female reproductive system. It's anti-inflammatory properties improve PMS symptoms, relieve the pain from cramping, and regulate menstrual cycles.
Is jasmine tea good for belly fat? ›
Jasmine tea contains catechins that have fat-burning properties and helps with weight loss. It increases your metabolic rate, quickening the rate at which your body burns fat. Studies show that people who drink jasmine tea lose weight more quickly than people who don't drink it.
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.
Does jasmine tea make you smell better? ›
Not only that, but jasmine tea can also help your breath smell better by targeting odor-causing bacteria.
