Last Updated on July 23, 2018 by Marc Seward
The Powerful Benefits of Jasmine Tea
Out of all the natural health and beauty products out there on the market today, teas have, by far, become the most popular. Of course, the majority of people don’t actually drink tea for its many significant benefits, but that certainly doesn’t mean that the benefits don’t exist.
Most of these teas, herbal, floral, or otherwise, have been used since ancient, traditional times for their abilities to provide powerful health and beauty benefits. It’s important that we remember these benefits so that we know just why teas deserve to be as popular as they are now.
What Is Jasmine Tea?
Jasmine tea can be traced back to the Ming dynasty in China, which lasted between the years of 1368 and 1644. The Ming dynasty was in love with all things floral, which might explain why jasmine tea became so popular during that time.
Jasmine tea was the first flavored tea to be exported from China to the West sometime in the late 1800s, even though many other tea flavorings became popular during the Qing dynasty, which lasted from 1644 to 1911. After it was exported, jasmine tea increased in popularity all around the world for its sweet aroma and floral taste.
Jasmine tea is a tea that has been flavored with jasmine blossoms. These flowers typically come from one of two species: common Jasmine, scientifically or botanically named Jasminum officinale, or Sampaguita, scientifically or botanically named Jasminum sambac. Both species are of the Oleaceae family, which is related to the olive.
While most teas are herbal, which means they are made from herbs, jasmine tea actually falls under the category of being a scented or flavored tea. These types of teas have flowers, spices, fruits, oils, or extracts added to them to add a specific scent or flavor on top of the original tea. Jasmine is most commonly added as a flavor or scent to green tea, but it may also sometimes be made with white or black tea.
Where Does Jasmine Tea Come From?
The origins of Common Jasmine are actually very difficult to trace because of how ancient the species is. Scientists have narrowed down the possibilities to the Middle East, India, Nepal, and some areas in the Himalayas. In the Middle East, areas would have included present-day Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. In fact, Common Jasmine is actually the national flower of Pakistan.
The origins of Sampaguita, on the other hand, has been traced much more efficiently. This species of jasmine originated in a small region of the eastern Himalayas; this region borders both Bhutan and India.
With that said, Sampaguita also grows commonly in areas across Asia and Southeast Asia, and it has spread to many places elsewhere, including Madagascar, the Caribbean, Central America, and Florida. It is also the national flower of the Philippines and one of three of Indonesia’s national flowers.
How Is Jasmine Tea Made?
Traditionally, the process of producing jasmine tea actually takes a long time and many steps to cover the whole process. First, the leaves of the base tea are plucked, typically in late spring so that they are fresh and easy to work with. The leaves are then dried or steamed to prepare them for the process of adding the scent and flavor of jasmine. After they are prepared, the finished leaves are stored until late summer, which is the time that jasmine flowers reach the peak of their blooming cycle.
Even the picking of the jasmine flowers is done very specifically. The flowers are picked in the middle of a hot summer day, as this is the time when the blossoms will be closed tightly in response to the sun exposure. When the flowers are dried and cooled, the blossoms will actually open up, which is when they are ready to be added to the tea leaves. Once everything is prepared and ready, the flowers are added to the tea leaves.
Because tea leaves are very absorbent naturally, they take in the scent and flavor of the jasmine flowers by just being close to them in a space with controlled humidity and temperature. The process of adding fresh flowers to the tea leaves may be done many times, depending on how strong the tea is meant to be; in fact, the process could last up to several weeks to create a particularly strong tea.
After the blossoms have been added to the leaves and their scent and flavor have been fully absorbed, the mixture is fired to remove any remaining moisture. Some manufacturers will keep the jasmine blossoms in the tea mix for decoration, even though there would be no scent or flavor left in them.
With that said, this is only one way of producing jasmine tea, and it is certainly the production method that takes the longest. Some manufacturers might use oils or extracts of jasmine to quicken the process without having to wait for the blossoms to be ready for picking at certain times of the year. If the oil used is organic, the tea would still be natural enough, but the traditional production method is definitely the more natural of the two.
Jasmine Tea Benefits
Overall, the benefits of jasmine tea will depend on what base tea was used to produce it. Green tea is the most popular choice during production, so the expected benefits could be based on that. With that said, the added aroma of jasmine flowers does provide some benefits on its own.
Otherwise, green tea provides a lot of very powerful health and cosmetic benefits on its own. One of its best benefits, perhaps, is its ability to fight cancer, thanks to its high levels of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is a polyphenol. This compound is actually unique to green tea in comparison to black tea, as the fermentation process required by black tea actually eliminates the compound.
Stress Relief
Much like lavender, jasmine oil is commonly used in aromatherapy practices for its calming effects. A scientific study performed in 2005 noted that a compound called linalool, which is found in jasmine teas, provides a sedative effect when the smell or vapor of the tea is inhaled. (1)
Other studies have shown that the aroma of jasmine flowers can also act as an antidepressant and relaxant for stress relief. Like many herbal teas, jasmine tea can help relax your mind and promote a good night of sleep so give it a try during periods of stress or anxiety.
Heart Health
Jasmine green tea may also help lower blood pressure levels; high blood pressure levels, which may be caused by things like stress or hypertension, could increase your risk of heart attacks, strokes, or other cardiovascular issues.
Green tea has been proven to have a positive effect on blood pressure levels, especially due to its high concentration of flavonoids with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The calming scent of jasmine may also help to relieve stress, which could potentially, in turn, help lower your blood pressure. Similarly, green tea has also been highly celebrated for its ability to lower bad cholesterol levels as well.
Skin Health
Because it is such a rich source of free radical busting antioxidants, it is possible that jasmine tea can help keep your skin looking young and healthy. The antioxidants found in jasmine tea may help eradicate wrinkles and fine lines and leave you with a younger looking complexion.
Weight Control
Drinking jasmine tea may help you keep your weight under control especially if you drink it as part of an overall diet and exercise plan. According to research, drinking green tea (which jasmine tea is usually made from) can help people lose weight faster. However, the jury is still out regarding just how effective it may be. (2)
Its potential weight loss effects are believed to be linked to its catechin content. These antioxidant compounds may help speed up your metabolic rate resulting in weight loss and more efficient fat burning.
Cancer Prevention
The antioxidants found in jasmine tea have a wide range of medicinal benefits. They help prevent oxidative stress which leads to a wide range of serious illnesses including cancer.
Studies have found that the polyphenols present in green tea and jasmine tea may have an inhibtory effect on cancer cells but research is at an early stage. (3)
Antibacterial Properties
Jasmine tea has antibacterial properties that may help fight off bacteria but it can also aid digestion by improving the overall balance of the gut’s bacteria. According to research, it is important to retain a balance between good and bad bacteria to combat common digestive conditions like IBS.
Cold Prevention
Jasmine tea also contains antiviral properties meaning that it can help your body fight off common viral conditions like the common cold or flu. If you feel that you are coming down with an illness, try drinking up regularly and it may prevent your symptoms from getting any worse.
Boosts Circulation
Drinking jasmine tea may also improve your body’s circulation. By boosting blood circulation, jasmine tea may help protect against a range of dangerous conditions including thrombosis, blood clots and high blood pressure. All of these conditions can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Focus
As green tea does contain caffeine, drinking jasmine green tea could help improve your attention and alertness. Green tea has been used traditionally in Chinese and Indian medicinal practices as a stimulant due to its caffeine content. Studies have shown that the natural source of caffeine found in green tea could have positive benefits on alertness and awareness.
With that said, you should speak with your doctor first before drinking any kind of green tea if you are already taking stimulant drugs, like ephedrine of phenylpropanolamine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does jasmine tea do for you?
Jasmine tea is full of antioxidants and has a range of potential health benefits. These include boosting your heart health, improving circulation, combating the cold and improving digestion. By drinking jasmine tea, you may also notice that your appearance benefits. It can help boost your skin;s health and combat many of the signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines.
Is jasmine tea as good for you as green tea?
Jasmine is usually made by combining jasmine blossoms with green tea so you are getting the best of both worlds. Green tea is famous for its very high levels of antioxidants and research suggests that it is one of the healthiest drinks you can consume. Jasmine does not contain the same level of antioxidants as green tea but that does not mean it isn’t an extremely healthy drink.
Whether or not jasmine tea is as good for you as pure green tea is still unclear but jasmine tea has had nowhere near the same level of research as green ea and remains relatively unproven.It is certainly refreshing, fragrant and delicious so give it a try and see how you feel.
Is jasmine tea good for skin?
Drinking plenty of jasmine tea is almost certainly good for your skin. It is a rich source of healthy antioxidants that can boost your skin;s health and appearance. If you have started to notice your skin showing the signs of aging, then jasmine tea and other healthy antioxidant rich teas can have a huge impact. The antioxidants found in jasmine tea can help reverse much of the damage done to the skin by harmful free radicals and help you look younger and healthier and maybe delay many of those unwanted signs of aging.
Is Jasmine tea good before bed?
Jasmine tea has a wonderful aroma that may help you to relax the mind and the body. Everybody reacts differently to scents but there is plenty of evidence that aromatic teas and herbs can help relax the mind and promote a relaxing night of sleep. Drinking jasmine tea before bed is a great option especially if you find it difficult to relax your mind and get off to sleep. Be careful not to overdo it or you might find yourself waking up for a bathroom visit.
Is there a lot of caffeine in jasmine tea?
Jasmine tea is usually made by adding jasmine blossoms to green tea. Sometimes however, jasmine is actually made by combining the blossoms with black tea or white tea. The amount of caffeine present will depend on which tea was used as a base but there is usually less caffeine in jasmine tea than standard black tea and white tea.
Side Effects of Jasmine Tea
Before you start drinking jasmine green tea, it’s important that you keep in mind some potential side effects. These side effects are mostly brought by the base of green tea, but there could be some involvement with the scent of jasmine flowers, as well.
Drinking too much caffeine could lead to issues with sleep, as well as other symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, along with many others. You may be at a greater risk of experiencing these negative side effects if you already have conditions such as high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, anxiety, or problems with your liver or kidneys. The consumption of caffeine may also interfere with certain types of medications, whether they be prescription or over-the-counter.
With that said, the recommended limit of caffeine consumption per day is between 200 and 400 milligrams. Jasmine green tea only contains around 25 milligrams of caffeine in a typical cup that contains 8 ounces of liquid. With that math, you would need to drink between 12 and 16 cups of jasmine green tea to actually reach this limit.
Pairing that with other caffeinated beverages, however, would increase the risk. It’s best to be careful and cautious with your caffeine intake and speak with your doctor if you have any concerns.
It should also be noted that the calming and sedative effects of the scent of jasmine flowers may conflict with driving or physical activities that require you to be alert. This poses more of a risk with the aromatherapy uses, however, as the caffeine content in the green tea base may counteract the sleepiness. Overall, there certainly aren’t enough side effects to truly be worried about jasmine green tea. Just be cautious with it, as you should with any part of your diet.
(1)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15976995
(2)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4025876/
(3)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20924968
