Why Jasmine Tea is Different from Other Tea
Whether you drink tea all the time or are just becoming acquainted with it, you should try Jasmine tea. Of all Chinese tea, this is one of the most popular, a type of tea that was first discovered in the Sung Dynasty some 700 years ago. Workers found that by hand plucking the leaves just prior to blooming, an amazing flavor was produced.
Once the leaves are plucked, they must be kept in a cool place until nighttime. At that point, the full flavor and fragrance are released. Next, petals of the Jasmine plant are added to the dry tealeaves. As the leaves dry, they begin to absorb the fragrance of the Jasmine petals. Typically, Jasmine tea is scented this way up to three times and for higher grades, scented even more. Today, this process is often done automatically with machinery whereas in the old days, it was all done by hand.
Quality Jasmine Tea
In the Fujian Province of China, the highest quality Jasmine tea is grown. The leaves in this location are extremely large and they are the most heavily scented. In fact, because the leaves are so loose, whether loose green tea, loose black tea, loose oolong tea, or loose white tea, they have the ability to absorb the fragrance of the Jasmine petals than tea grown anywhere else in the world.
To make this type of flowering tea, the leaves must be hand plucked in the springtime, which is when the leaves are the tenderest. In fact, for this type of exotic tea, the key to quality is for it to be produced from the first plucking, which means the first leaves that grow. Often, you will hear of Jasmine tea made this way as “Spring Breeze”.
Differences with Jasmine Tea
While Jasmine tea has been popular throughout Asia, it is particularly popular in the northern region of China. However, over the past five to ten years, people all over the world are now enjoying this kind of healthy tea. As you will discover, Jasmine tea is unique in a number of ways.
Many Asians believed that Jasmine tea held some kind of spiritual power. For this reason, its popularity increased dramatically, especially for use in formal tea ceremonies.
The base tea to make Jasmine tea can be green tea, Chinese black tea, or oolong tea. Because of this, you would still get the same floral flavor but based on the choice of base tea, the flavor of Jasmine tea would vary.
If you think that you might want to try Jasmine tea, the next step is trying to decide the variety to choose.
Every person has a different taste preference so you would likely choose the base tea you like most. Of course, you can always step outside the box to try a number of varieties just to experience the difference. Most people will find varieties of Jasmine tea they like and do not like so consider the characteristics of the base tea varieties to help you decide.
Jasmine Green Tea
Of all Jasmine flower tea, this is by far the most popular. For one thing, green tea is extremely healthy and it has a nice, relaxing flavor that is light and natural. You could drink this type of Jasmine tea plain or add cream. Remember that green tea is loaded with antioxidants so it offers all types of medical properties. Additionally, green tea is not fermented so it has virtually no caffeine.
Antioxidants have been carefully studies and experts know that they prevent and fight serious illnesses. Additionally, antioxidants protect the body from damage caused by free radicals, which develop in the digestive process. The damage caused is to the cellular level, as well as DNA. Therefore, choosing foods and drinking tea high in antioxidants helps keep free radicals in check.
Oolong Jasmine Tea
Another popular type of Jasmine tea is made with oolong tea. In this case, oolong is only slightly fermented so it has caffeine but not much. The fermentation process is shorter than the time it requires for black tea to ferment. In this case, the fermentation process is halted once the leaves are 70% green and 30% red.
However, it takes a skilled worker to stop the fermentation process at the exact time, which is what produces the wonderful and unique flavor of oolong tea. You would find the flavor of Jasmine oolong tea to be mild but with a slightly fruity and sweet taste and with wonderful fragrance.
White Jasmine Tea
Another popular type of Jasmine tea uses white tea as the base, giving the tea a light and delicate flavor and soothing aroma. Interestingly, because white tea is only produced once a year and there are few growers, it is considered rare. Therefore, quality white tea is a little more challenging to find and it is the most expensive tea sold.
For over 700 years, white tea was consumed only in Asian countries and for special occasions such as formal tea ceremonies. However, this type of tea is now very popular in westernized countries. Because of growing consumer demand, finding good white tea is a little more difficult to find. This type of tea is also unfermented, meaning it has a high level of antioxidants and very little caffeine just like green tea does.
Black Jasmine Tea
The final base is with Chinese black tea. Black tea is very popular in North America so many people will choose this type of tea when buying Jasmine tea. The flavor of black tea is rich and bold, far more than you would get from white, green, or oolong tea. Even the aroma is stronger but pleasant.
Remember, no matter the base tea you choose, trying one or more varieties of Jasmine tea should be tried. Not only is the flavor enjoyable but also, as you sip it hot or drink it cold, the fragrance enhances the overall experience.
This is why we suggest that people try several different varieties of Jasmine tea so they have something from which to make comparisons. Jasmine is a wonderful flower that has a sweet, floral scent so if you find this appealing, you can imagine how delicious it would be when added to your favorite base tea.
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