Jasmine Tea Origin

Jasmine Tea has a very light and pleasant aroma almost like a sweet perfume that can definitely spice up your tea cravings. It’s one of the most popular scented teas, believed to have originated in China and made popular worldwide when merchants from the West discovered them. Jasmine flowers are a native of the Middle East and Asia.

Jasmine Tea can be any type of tea deeply infused with the scent of jasmine flower buds and leaves. Usually Jasmine Tea has green tea as its base.  Varieties of white tea, oolong tea, and black tea with Jasmine are also available.

There are many forms of Jasmine Tea. The most basic are the loose-leaves, powder, and tea bags version. A more elegant version is the jasmine pearl, where tea leaves are hand rolled together into a small ball and unravel when steeping. Another beautiful form is the flowering or blooming tea. Leaves are sewn in layers to contain the flowers inside and loosen in hot water, revealing a blooming jasmine flower.

How Jasmine Tea is made

The traditional method to make Jasmine Tea is by alternating layers of green tea leaves with jasmine leaves and buds. Tea leaves can easily absorb the floral scent. Jasmine buds are usually picked during the day when it’s closed and will bloom fully overnight, releasing its fragrance. As the flowers wilt, the jasmine flowers can be exchanged for fresh ones and this process can be repeated for several nights or up to several weeks depending on the grade of the tea. Finally, the tea leaves are dried to eliminate all moisture released from the flowers.  The jasmine flowers and tea leaves are then separated. Sometimes, jasmine particles are left in the mix. Dried flowers may also be added after the process.

Other methods of producing Jasmine Tea include using jasmine oils, natural jasmine flavoring, artificial jasmine flavoring, or a mixture of other floral scents.

Jasmine Tea Health Benefits

The benefits of Jasmine tea mainly come from the type of tea used as its base, which is usually green tea, but could also be white tea, black tea, or oolong tea. A positive benefit of jasmine is its light and soothing floral aroma that helps stimulates relaxation. Plus, the typical tea flavor gets an extra dimension.