Jasmine Green Tea benefits, unlike most teas, is made from both green leaves and the jasmine blossoms. These plants, over 200 species in number, are widely cultivated for their beautiful fragrant white, yellow or red flowers.
The jasmine plant was brought to China from Persia sometime in the third century AD but never became popular there until about 1000 years ago. Yin Hao is considered the finest jasmine tea. Other popular versions are Xiang Pian, Dragon Phoenix Pearl, and Mo Li Hua Cha, the latter being possibly the most popular scented tea worldwide.
To make jasmine green tea, they start with a Chinese green tea for a base. Two popular ones are pouching and oolong and a few start with a black tea base. The tea leaves are picked and processed in April and May. Then they are kept dry until the jasmine flowers bloom in late August and September.
Timing is everything when gathering the flowers. They must be fully open and for this reason they are harvested at midnight, or early in the morning. Then the open flowers are placed with the tea so that the scent of the flower can be absorbed into the tea over the next four hours. After this the flowers are removed. This process is repeated from two to seven times over a month. Then the tea is ready for sale. The grade of the tea is determined by how many scentings the tea has gotten over a month. High grade jasmine tea has had up to seven scentings over the month. Low grade has had two to three scentings.
Most green teas with jasmine have proven to have anticancer, antiviral, and antioxidant properties largely because of the significant presence of polyphenols. The tea fights cancer and aging by eliminating free radicals. Jasmine helps diabetics and reduces high blood pressure. This helps to prevent arterial sclerosis, strokes, heart attacks, and thrombosis.
One of the Jasmine Green Tea is to improve intestine conditions by blocking the development and growth of bad bacteria and by strengthening good bacteria. It also helps to reduce the risk of blood clots, to prevent allergy and flu, to reduce blood sugar, to keep fluid balance, to boost the immune system, and to provide oral health and fluoride that helps prevent dental cavities.
Jasmine tea also fights food poisoning, including dysentery, cholera, and piccoli that causes gastric ulcers. Gargling with jasmine green tea is one of the best ways to protect oneself from influenza since the tea contains anti-viral substances.
Today, jasmine is known in alternative health care as an effective anti-depressant, including post-natal depression, and menopause problems. Along with raspberry leaf tea, it has been used to help childbirth and milk production. It can help relieve muscle and joint pain, including chronic back pain and is considered a romantic enhancer.
Recent studies show that jasmine tea can be used to lose weight. The presence of jasmine in the tea caused the ones drinking it to lose more weight than those simply drinking oolong tea. Some believe the presence of catechins in the jasmine cause the body to burn calories faster and decrease body fat.
You can purchase jasmine already mixed in the green tea. Simply steep about one teaspoon of tea in two cups of water near boiling temperature for two minutes. You can do this up to three times before discarding it. Drink at least four cups of this a day. This tea may be served with strongly flavored foods or, if you like, it may be served alone. It is good with vegetarian dishes, curries, and chicken and fish. A good quality jasmine green tea will work beautifully with soft cheeses with pressed flowers, with fruit and flower salads, or with desserts made with flowers.