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Subtly sweet and wonderfully fragrant, Jasmine tea is created through a careful process of picking closed jasmine flowers in the late summer afternoons, carefully storing them until they begin to open in the evening, and blending them to sit overnight. The delicate, complex flavours and outstanding aromas are brought to life as the jasmine flowers begin to bloom, making for a very special cup of tea.
Ingredients
Semi-Green Tea
Allergens
While we try to keep to the strictest standards in our treatment of allergens, please be aware that our factory handles nuts, milk and soy ingredients. Please check our ingredients lists for specific information on each tea.
Your Guide to Jasmine Tea
Jasmine tea is arguably the most famous scented tea in China and is known for its perfumed and floral aromas. Jasmine tea is so loved, that in northern China it is customary to serve a cup of it as a welcoming gesture to guests.
A number of jasmine teas come from the Fujian Province, which produces white tea with jasmine (Bai Hao Yin Zhen), Jasmine Silver Hair (Yin Hao Jasmine), Jasmine Raindrops and Jasmine Spring Hao Ya, while the Sichuan Province is home to Jasmine Snowflakes tea (Bi Tan Piao Xue). Ornate, rolled teas, such as Dragon Pearls and Jasmine Raindrops, have become particularly popular amongst Western tea lovers.
The History of Jasmine Tea
The jasmine bush that provides the intoxicating, fragrant flowers for jasmine tea is not actually indigenous to China, but it is believed that it has long been grown in the country after being brought from Persia from as long ago as the Period of Disunity (220-589). The town of Changle and its surrounding area is known for its production of jasmine flowers, with bushes planted in abundance throughout the area.
In the centuries following, jasmine tea became a speciality of the northern Fujian Province, likely from around the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), a time in which a wide range of ‘scented’ teas, made from fragrant flower blossoms, were enjoyed across China, such as chrysanthemum, gardenia, osmanthus, rose and magnolia. Jasmine tea grew to such a level of renown that early Chinese tea masters were often responsible for experimenting with and mastering the process of producing the tea.
Jasmine scented tea became especially prized by emperors and was offered as a gift to dignitaries visiting China, which, combined with the movement of other Chinese goods across the early trade routes, increased the international awareness of the tea. This widespread awareness also became the inspiration for certain scented teas favoured by Russians and peoples of the Near East.
While there are many varieties of jasmine plant, it is Arabian jasmine (or Jasmine Sambac) that is used in jasmine tea to give the drink its wonderful floral aroma.
How Jasmine Tea is Produced
Jasmine tea is made in two steps: a ‘base tea’ is first created, before the fragrant jasmine blossoms are added to make the finished tea, through a process known as hongqing. In Fujian, this jasmine base tea (known as zao) is made from leaf freshly plucked during the spring season, which is then rolled after de-enzyming has taken place. The leaf is then dried, using indirect rather than direct heat, applied by blowing warm air over the leaf in a drying machine. Through this indirect heating process, the leaves begin to curl, leaving more surface area exposed and thereby increasing the absorption of the scent of jasmine once the blossoms are introduced.
Once the base tea has been prepared, it will be stored in cool storage until the summer, when the jasmine blossoms are available. These blossoms are usually picked between July and September, with those picked in July often being the most fragrant. The blossoms are ideally gathered at around noon, when lingering remnants of dew from the night have evaporated. Blossom gatherers will tend to apply two criteria for judging quality jasmine: the length of the flower shaft and the colour of the blossom, which will change from ivory to white.
Once these jasmine blossoms are added to the tea base, the finished jasmine tea can be created, scented with the delicate jasmine aromas.
Types of Jasmine Tea
Jasmine tea is produced in a range of varieties, each with their own nuanced flavours and aromas.
Subtly sweet and wonderfully fragrant, Jasmine tea is created through a careful process of picking closed jasmine flowers in the late summer afternoons, carefully storing them until they begin to open in the evening and blending them to sit overnight.
Dragon Phoenix Pearl Jasmin Tea
Sourced from the Fujian Province, this exquisite tea is prepared using the large white buds of jasmine flowers, which are picked and hand-rolled into incredible phoenix eyes. These buds are then gently perfumed more than five times over with aromatic jasmine flowers.
Sourced from the Wuyi Mountains in the Fujian Province of China, Jasmine Blossom Green Tea is a slightly sweet and delicate green tea that makes for a very relaxing experience. Made with blossom, it reveals a lovely flowery aroma, with leafy undertones.
Made from jasmine flowers and jasmine petals, and sourced from the Fujian Province of China, this very mild yet delicately flavoured tea is caffeine-free, so you can enjoy it at any time of the day.
A luxury green tea, made from jasmine blossom and dried lychee, sourced from Hunan in China. Light jasmine scents combine with sweet and fruity flavours, and lovely floral notes.
Reviews of Jasmine Tea
Below is a selection of comments from customers who have enjoyed some of our top-class jasmine tea varieties:
Jasmine Tea
“This tea is delicious and full of delicate flavours. Will be buying again for sure! Fast delivery, great communication and good packaging.”
Samira T. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The best jasmine tea I have tasted (so far), promptly delivered. I will re-order very soon.”
Jonathan D. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Excellent price, excellent product, excellent service”
Richard E. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jasmine Blossom Green Tea
“Great green tea beautiful flavours”
Kazim. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lichee Jasmine Green Tea
“Light tea with subtle flavour very refreshing”
Colin S. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jasmine Flower Tea
“I’ve been searching for original jasmine flower tea for a few years ever since one of my Chinese students gave me some and this is certainly the real thing”
Claire B. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
FAQs
What does jasmine tea taste like?
The flavours of jasmine tea are delicate and complex, balancing wonderfully with the intoxicating jasmine aromas. There are nuanced variations across the different varieties of jasmine tea and the base tea used to create each type, but they will generally reveal delicious, sweet floral notes and a fresh, clean finish.
How should I prepare jasmine loose leaf tea?
Jasmine tea should be prepared using fresh water: filtered tap water or bottled spring water are the best options. Heat your teapot and cup by filling them with hot water and carefully pouring it out. Water used to steep the jasmine tea will ideally not quite have reached boiling point, so aim for a temperature of around 80ºC. Add 2-3 teaspoons of loose leaf jasmine tea to your pot of heated water and allow the leaves to steep for around 3 minutes, before straining off the tea leaves as you pour the tea into your warmed cup.
Where can I buy the best jasmine tea?
When sourcing the best jasmine tea online, you need look no further than Tea-Direct to find some of the finest jasmine teas available. You can browse our full range here.