The History of Jasmine Tea
Tea infused with jasmine flowers has benefits that go beyond enjoying its rich historical legacy. Tea Forté offers many delicious blends to enjoy. Jasmine tea is a unique blend made by scenting green tea with the fragrant jasmine flowers. Green tea is one of the most popular jasmine varieties, though the flowers may also be added to oolong, white and black teas. The resulting flavor can be described as fresh or sweet Did you know that June is the start of the short-lived jasmine tea season? Scenting green tea with Jasmine is a centuries old practice requiring an astonishing amount of skill, time and craftsmanship. For only a few months, Chinese tea growers are able to create this delicate and complex tea.
Jasmine tea is created through a labor intensive scenting process. Each evening in June, July and August, tea leaves and jasmine blossoms are place in thick alternating layers in a scenting house. As the jasmine buds unfurl, their fragrance is released and the tea absorbs the jasmine essence.
Scenting requires years of experience and weeks of careful labor. The jasmine buds are hand-plucked in the early afternoon, when the sun is out and the dew has evaporated. The pickers carefully select only those buds set to bloom that same evening. Rapidly harvesting thousands of tiny buds that are perfectly poised to bloom is a feat of remarkable dexterity and concentration. The exquisite jasmine flowers are then stored in a dry place until evening, when the blossoms open in the cool night air, releasing their intoxicating flavor.
In the evening, the scenting process begins. The flowers are placed into basket trays and layered over tea leaves during the scenting process. This is usually done in a closed room. It takes four long hours for the tea to absorb the gorgeous fragrance and distinctive flavor of the fragile jasmine blossoms.
The quality of jasmine tea is determined by the quality of green tea used as its base and the effectiveness of the scenting. Higher-grade teas require that the scenting process be repeated as many as seven times.
Drinking a cup of tea flavored with jasmine is a unique experience that draws you back to the rich history of this unique beverage.
The History of Jasmine Tea
First produced in China over 1,000 years ago, jasmine tea is made by scenting tea leaves with jasmine flowers.
This process began during the South-Song Dynasty in China and was further developed during the Ming Dynasty. By the early 1900’s, the blend was popular enough to be a fast-moving trade item. Demand increased production costs when the jasmine flowers had to be planted in pots and moved indoors to stay warm over the winter.
Though Taiwan got a taste for jasmine blends and began cultivating their own flowers in the late 1800s, China is still regarded as the best producer of this particular tea blend.
Benefits of Tea with Jasmine Flowers
Jasmine flowers originated in Persia, which is now Iran, and provide unique benefits when blended with tea. Since green tea is generally the most popular, many of the health effects of drinking jasmine tea come from the antioxidants and polyphenol compounds in the tea leaves. A particular polyphenol called EGCG has been shown to have anti-cancer properties and may also be beneficial for weight loss. Antioxidants in general work to combat the aging process, lower disease rates and improve cardiovascular health.
The scent of jasmine has been used in aromatherapy to ease anxiety and help people relax. In fact, jasmine essential oils are considered to have a tranquilizing effect that calms excitable states and may also boost mood. Inhaling the scent as you sip a cup of tea infused with jasmine lowers your heart rate, helping to trigger a natural state of relaxation. Jasmine is also purported to have antibacterial properties.
Enjoy tea with jasmine flowers as part of your daily routine to reap all the benefits that it has to offer.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.