Take a walk through a garden of sweet smelling blossoms with a sip of jasmine tea. Though there are a variety of teas that feature flowers for a pleasant floral aroma, Jasmine Tea is a centuries old scented tea. Though initially enjoyed in China, Jasmine Tea has gained popularity across the globe.

You might have even wandered into a tea shop to find a selection of this sweetly scented tea. But, where does one start when it comes to Jasmine Tea? What even is Jasmine Tea? Which variety do I try as a beginner? And how do you brew it? Sit yourself down in a garden with your teapot and teacup and discover the world of jasmine tea.

What is Jasmine Anyway?

Jasmine is a small, white flower that produces a sweet-smelling fragrance. There are over 200 varieties that are grown throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania in tropical or temperate climates, though only two are typically used in Jasmine Tea: Jasminum Officinale and Jasminum Sambac.

Jasmine is a flower prized throughout the world, though it carries a significant cultural impact in Asian countries. Not only is it used in tea, but it's also a popular ingredient for perfume as well as decoration, often seen during weddings, religious ceremonies, and festivals in certain parts of the world.

So How Does Tea Come Into Play?

One of tea's traits is its ability to absorb flavors and aromas from the surrounding area.

Normally, you want to prevent tea from absorbing additional flavors, which is why it's recommended to store tea away from anything with a strong smell. However, tea's absorbing properties are taken advantage of when producing Jasmine Tea.

Though some blends include actual jasmine flowers with the tea leaves, most Jasmine Teas are simply scented with jasmine.

The tea used in Jasmine Tea is usually harvested in the spring and stored until jasmine blooms in the summer. Then, using the tea's natural ability to absorb flavors, the tea leaves and jasmine are laid out together overnight so the jasmine aroma is absorbed in the tea over several hours.

This process can be repeated several times until the desired strength is achieved. Depending on the tea artisan, the leaves can be left loose or rolled into small pearls. Green tea is usually used in jasmine teas due to its mild flavor, though white and black jasmine teas are also available.

Jasmine Tea is a popular genre of Chinese Tea and is especially popular in the Fujian province. It's even used in some areas to give newcomers a friendly welcome. Whether you're greeting an old friend after many years or unwinding at the end of the day, a cup of Jasmine Tea is sure to leave an impression.

Brewing Jasmine Tea

There are a few things to keep in mind when brewing Jasmine Tea.

As with all teas, the keys to brewing a proper cup of tea are water temperature and brewing time. Brew at too low a temperature and the flavors won't be properly extracted into the water; too hot and you could burn the tea, producing a bitter cup. It's a good rule of thumb to follow general water temperature guidelines for the type of tea when brewing Jasmine Tea.

While it's recommended to brew a black tea blend with boiling water, green or white jasmine teas should be brewed at lower temperatures. When brewing a Green Jasmine Tea, only brew between 165-175°F, while for a White Jasmine Tea, brewing at a slightly higher temperature at 180-185°F is recommended.

Once you heat the water to the proper temperature, it's important not to over or under brew the tea. Black teas can be brewed anywhere from 3-5 minutes but are somewhat forgiving when it comes to brewing. Green and White Teas only need 2-3 minutes, but need to have an eye kept them to ensure the tea doesn't become too bitter or astringent due to over brewing.

Other than keeping water temperature and brewing time in mind, there's no special trick to brewing a good cup of jasmine tea. Brew it as you would any other tea: simply find your favorite tea pot, add the leaves, pour water, let brew, remove the leaves, and pour. Enjoy!

Ready to Try Jasmine Tea? Try These Teas!

Jasmine Chun Hao

A great introduction to the world of Jasmine Tea, Chun Hao is a good representation of what a jasmine tea should be at an affordable price. This is a lovely Green Jasmine Tea, and if you're new to the world of Jasmine Tea (or even Chinese teas in general), this is a good place to start.

Jasmine Phoenix Pearls

A feast for the mouth and the eyes, watching Jasmine Phoenix Pearls unfurl is a fun way to pass the time while waiting for a cup of this heavenly brew. Though most jasmine teas are loose, this Green Jasmine Tea is rolled into tiny pearls that slowly open up when exposed to hot water, releasing the flavors and aromas of the tea and jasmine. Brew this one in glassware for a front row seat!

Jasmine Silver Needle

Silver Needle is the cream of the crop when it comes to White Tea, and it makes a great base for a Jasmine Tea. Because it's a White Tea, Jasmine Silver Needle is milder than its green tea cousins, not having the risk of astringency that usually accompany Green Teas. This is a calm tea, a perfect way to end a busy day in peace, quiet, and tea.

Jasmine Yin Hao

Yin Hao is one of the top grades of Jasmine Tea in China with the jasmine being infused to the tea leaves multiple times before being packaged and shipped to teapots throughout the world. Coming from the mountains of Fujian, this Jasmine Tea comes in the loose tea form. As a high quality Green Jasmine Tea, it's especially important to brew this tea with the correct temperature and brewing time in order to ensure a truly luxurious experience.