Though most teas are made from only the leaves of herbs, jasmine
green tea is different. It is made by adding the jasmine flower to the
tea Cultivated widely for its beautiful flowers, jasmine is any of more
than 200 species with 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.
Jasmine green tea
is made by starting with a Chinese green tea for a base. Some will use
pouchong/oolong or black tea but green is more common. The tea leaves
are plucked and processed in April and May and then kept dry until the
jasmine flowers bloom in August and September.
The flowers are
gathered when they are fully open, either at midnight or early in the
morning. Then they are placed with the tea so that the scent of the
flower can be absorbed over the next four hours. The flowers are then
removed. This will be repeated from two to seven times over a month's
processing before the tea is ready for sale. Grading of the tea is
determined by how many scentings the tea has gotten over a month. Low
grade is 2-3 scentings. Higher grades will use seven scentings over the
month.
Most green teas with jasmine contain a significant amount
of polyphenols, plant-based substances that have proven to have
anticancer, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. This helps prevent
certain cancers and slows aging by eliminating free radicals. Jasmine is
good for diabetes prevention and reducing high blood pressure. It is
believed to prevent strokes, heart attacks, thrombosis, and arterial
sclerosis.
Other jasmine tea health benefits include the ability
to reduce the risk of blood clot, prevent allergy and flu, reduce blood
sugar, keep fluid balance, boost the immune system and provide oral care
and fluoride that helps protect against cavities and prevent tooth
decay. One of the jasmine tea health benefits is to improve intestine
conditions by blocking development and growth of bad bacteria and
strengthening good bacteria.
In addition, jasmine tea fights food
poisoning, including cholera, dysentery, and piccoli causing gastric
ulcers. Gargling with jasmine green tea is believed to be one of the
most effective ways to protect oneself from influenza, as the tea
performs anti-viral functions.
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 drinking
jasmine tea may fight fat. People who consumed tea with jasmine tea
extract during the period of three months lost more fat than those who
consumed regular oolong tea It seems substances found in jasmine tea
known as catechins, trigger weight loss by decreasing body fat and
stimulating the body to burn calories.
To prepare a cup of tea
simply steep about one half teaspoon of tea in water from 170ºF to 190ºF
for two minutes. You can repeat the steeping up to two times. You
should consume at least four cups a day. This tea is served with
strongly flavored foods or served alone. It is good with curries,
chicken and fish, and vegetarian dishes. A good quality jasmine green
tea will work beautifully with fruit and flower salads, or desserts made
with flowers, or soft cheeses with pressed flowers.
But there are more benefits of the Jasmine Green Tea to be discovered. Visit http://www.MoreThanAlive.com, an online store for bulk herbs and a trusted resource where you can buy green tea and many other herbs.
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