The aroma and subtle sweetness produced by the Jasmine flowers makes it a one of a kind tea experience. The blossoms from the flowers: Jasmine (Jasminum Officinale) or Sampaguita (Jasminum Sambac), are often mixed with green tea leaves, black or white tea, and other elaborate blends of dessert teas.
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How Jasmine Tea is Made
Unlike other tea, jasmine tea is mixed with other tea leaves such as green tea, black or white tea, and many more, this requires more process before it gets sold to consumers unlike any other tea. Jasmine tea is considered one of the most labor intensive tea ingredients to harvest, the leaves are harvested during spring and the flowers during summer. The reason for this is the leaves oxidizes in the warm weather and changes its flavor profile; the tiny size of the flowers adds more challenge to the harvesting process.
In addition, the jasmine tea goes through an additional step called scenting. The chosen tea leaves to be mixed are layered with fresh jasmine petals, allowing the scent to be infused in the leaves. This is left for a period of time and often repeated more than once. There are more complex versions of jasmine tea called Yin Hao and Dragon Pearls, they go through the scenting process at least seven to nine times.
History of Jasmine Tea
Although some jasmine flowers originated in Persia, the process of turning the flowers to jasmine tea is a practice that stems down from China during the South-Song Dynasty. The jasmine fields bloom when the weather is warm and this is the only opportunity for Chinese tea growers to produce their tea, harvesting buds require concentration and good timing in order for the grower to make top quality jasmine tea. This tea was introduced outside of China through fast trading and became popular around the world. The supply of jasmine tea could not keep up with its current demand, in effect, the price of jasmine tea increased as well as its production cost. Since the growing season of jasmine buds is constricted to a limited time of the year, the tea growers developed an indoor farm that imitates the warm temperature that allows the jasmine flowers to grow; with this decision, they were able to harvest all-year-round.
Taiwan decided to experiment by themselves and began cultivating jasmine flowers in the late 19th century. Although they had a taste for jasmine blends, Mainland China still had the top-notch and was seen as the best producer of jasmine tea. Jasmine flowers are symbolic to the Chinese culture and could translate to ‘forever love’, it is also one of the holy flowers of Buddhism and its fragrance is thought to be from heaven.
Kinds of Jasmine Flowers
False Jasmine
Some shrubs are not part of the jasmine family that have the name ‘jasmine’ in them and they are called ‘false jasmines’.
True Jasmine
Jasminum Officinale (Common Jasmine)
Common Jasmine, also commonly known by the names Summer Jasmine, Poet’s Jasmine, White Jasmine, Common White Jasmine, or True Jasmine. It is commonly used for essential oils, aromatherapy, and to make jasmine tea.
Jasminum Grandiflorum (Royal Jasmine)
Royal Jasmine, Spanish Jasmine, or Catalonian Jasmine is a subset of Jasminum Officinale. It is often grown for the food and the perfume industry.
Jasminum Nudiflorum (Winter Jasmine)
Winter Jasmine produces bright yellow blossoms and are usually used to bring vibrancy to gardens and can also be used to provide ground cover despite being hardly fragrant.
Jasminum Sambac (Arabian Jasmine/Sampaguita)
Arabian Jasmine or Sampaguita are from the Arab Peninsula and have white multi-layered flowers with dark green leaves that can be used for decoration. This is the national flower of the Philippines and Indonesia and is commonly used to make jasmine tea.
Jasminum Parkeri (Dwarf Jasmine)
Dwarf Jasmine has sun-light yellow blooms with five petals. They grow in clumps and are only slightly fragrant. They can be used for ornamentation or decoration.
Jasminum Fruticans (Wild Jasmine)
Wild Jasmine, also known as Jasminum Odoratissimum, produces rich yellow flowers and is low-growing which can be used for ground-cover and hedges. They look enchanting despite these flowers being odorless.
Jasminum Polyanthum (Pink Jasmine)
Pink Jasmines are native to China and are known for their beauty. They have an intense fragrance and can be used for decorative purposes.
Health Benefits of Jasmine Tea
Jasmine flowers have long been related to interesting health benefits, the fragrance of the flowers has been utilized in aromatherapy-based treatment to ease anxiety and as a natural muscle relax. Other health benefits of drinking jasmine tea includes:
Weight loss
Jasmine tea can aid weight loss through boosting or speeding up your metabolism by 4-5% with an extra 70-100 calorie burn, it may also increase burning fat by 10-16% more.
Improve oral health and fights bad breath
Jasmine tea may combat bad oral hygiene and halitosis by neutralizing plaque-forming bacteria. Due to the high catechin amount in the tea, it may help protect your teeth against tooth decay or cavities.
Antioxidants
Jasmine tea is bursting with polyphenols that act as cancer prevention agents in your body. It contains polyphenol EGCG, which is connected to numerous wellbeing benefits like reducing the risk of heart disease.
Improve brain function
Jasmine tea can make you more alert, vigilant, energized, and even improve short-term memory at a relaxed yet attentive state, this is due to its caffeine and L-theanine content.
Protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
Jasmine tea has been linked to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease due to its powerful polyphenols. This suppresses inflammation and neutralizes free radical damage.
Manages diabetes
Studies show that drinking Jasmine tea can help your body use insulin more effectively in order to reduce blood sugar levels. It is suggested that drinking 3 cups (710ml) or more of jasmine tea daily can lower risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes.
May reduce the risk of certain types of cancers
Jasmine tea contains polyphenols reduce or suppress the growth of cancer cells – but more research is still needed in this area; but since jasmine tea is high in antioxidants, it helps reduce free radical damage and may have cancer-fighting properties
Heart protection
Because of a high percentage of polyphenols, Jasmine tea may help protect against heart disease by preventing LDL (bad) cholesterol from oxidizing and potentially clogging your arteries.
Side Effects from Drinking Jasmine Tea
Drinking Jasmine tea can reduce heart disease, reduce cancer risk, increase metabolism, and is overall a delicious beverage but like every food or beverage intake, it should be regulated.
Individuals such as pregnant women, children, and those with dietary restrictions should be careful on how much they drink because the body may not be able to absorb iron from other food due to the catechins which is also present in jasmine tea. Catechins are the phenolic compounds that can help prevent cell damage and can boost metabolism; but too much catechin intake can degrade the presence of oxygen in your body, resulting in liver or kidney failure and low blood sugar. If a person is at risk of iron deficiency, drinking jasmine tea at least an hour after eating would be better instead of drinking it between meals.
Jasmine tea is incredibly healthy as stated above with little to no side effects; however, it may cause issues for people who are sensitive to caffeine. Too much caffeine can result in anxiety, restlessness, jitters, shakiness, and even stomach pains. Pregnant women are also prone to miscarriage if caffeine intake is a lot.
Best Paired with
Every tea has distinctive flavors that is suitable for various food pairing. It is worth keeping in mind that coordinating teas with food is an evolving craftsmanship and an acquired taste. Some suggestions from those who have experimented with pairing jasmine tea with food suggests that they are best paired with seafood, salads, chicken, and desserts to be general.
Iced Jasmine Green Tea Recipe
Ingredients
Green jasmine tea (¼ cup of loose leaves or 3 teabags), 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, 6 cups of water, 1/2 cup lemon juice, 1/3 cup honey,and sliced lemon
Tools
Pot
Steps
- Step 1: Boil water in a pot then put mint leaves and jasmine tea leaves steep for 10-15 minutes.
- Step 2: While the tea is warm, add as much honey until prefered sweetness is achieved, then stir until it dissolves.
- Step 3: Let tea cool down, then transfer to a pitcher.
- Step 4: Squeeze a quarter of a lemon.
- Step 5: With a tall glass, add ice and fill with jasmine green tea. Garnish with sliced lemon or lime.
- Step 6: Refrigerate pitcher with leftover tea
Jasmine Infused Panna Cotta
Ingredients
Panna Cotta: 300ml milk, 150ml thickened cream, 45g raw sugar, 2 jasmine tea bags, 5g gelatin powder, 2½ tbsp water
Jasmine Gelatin Topping: ¼ cup hot water, 1 jasmine tea bag, ½ tsp raw sugar, ½ tsp gelatin powder, ½ tsp water
Tools
Saucepan, strainer, and ramekins or serving glasses.
Steps
Panna Cotta:
- Step 1: In a bowl, pour gelatin in hot water, stir and let it sit for 5 mins.
- Step 2: In a saucepan, pour the milk, thickened cream, sugar, and jasmine tea bags. Heat and stir for 10 minutes then remove teabags.
- Step 3: Remove from heat, pour softened gelatin into milk mixture and stir until gelatin melts and well combined.
- Step 4: Pour mixture in a ramekin or serving glass with a strainer.
- Step 5: Place the bowl in an ice bath and stir constantly until cooled.
- Step 6: Place in the fridge for 2 hrs.
Jasmine Gelatin Topping:
- Step 1: Mix gelatin powder with water and let sit for 5 mins.
- Step 2: Steep jasmine tea in a bowl with hot water for 10 mins, then remove teabag
- Step 3: Pour the sugar and gelatin powder, stir until everything melts and well-combined, then let it cool.
- Step 4: Pour tea mixture over chilled panna cotta then place again in the fridge for 4 hrs. Serve cold.
Jasmine Infused Peach Smoothie
Ingredients
Jasmine tea (3 teabags or 3 tsps loose leaves), 1/3 cup boiling water, 1 cup plain unsweetened kefir, 1 frozen banana chopped ,1/2 cup frozen peaches, 2 tablespoons raw honey
Tools
Steps
- Step 1: Place tea bags in boiling water and let steep for ten minutes.
- Step 2: Remove teabags and let tea cool
- Step 3: Place ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Optional: Garnish with mint leaves
Jasmine tea has a delicate flavor and sweet-scented aroma that helps you to stay alert yet feel relaxed at the same time. In addition to all of its health benefits, jasmine tea is a great ingredient to incorporate for any food. It can be a go-to tea for it’s light flavor that can be paired well with different types of food and can be a tea-base for any recipe.
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