Refined taste and delicate floral aroma - this is how jasmine tea can be described. For many centuries, true connoisseurs have chosen this particular drink. It is believed that properly prepared jasmine tea relieves fatigue and heals the sick.
How jasmine green tea is made
Jasmine tea is made from premium green tea and jasmine flowers. Green tea leaves are harvested only in warm weather in April and May. The plantations are located in the mountains at an altitude of 1600 m. A special variety of jasmine is grown in the valleys, which has special properties.
There are two ways to get jasmine tea:
- by placing a mixture of tea leaves and jasmine flowers in a cold, dry room for a period of 3 months;
- hot processing a mixture of tea leaves and jasmine.
The jasmine tea obtained by the first method is manually peeled from the jasmine petals. This jasmine tea is quite expensive. The mixture prepared according to the second method is much cheaper. But in terms of taste and aroma, it is much inferior to the drink obtained in the process of long cold storage.
The most famous jasmine tea
In different provinces of China: Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan and Fujian, different varieties are produced. Depending on the manufacturer, the varieties differ in appearance and taste. Indeed, each province has its own secrets of growing tea bushes and jasmine.
The most common variety of green jasmine tea is Hua Long Zhu or Jasmine Dragon Pearl. The plant is grown in the mountains of the southern province of China - Fujian. The Jasmine Dragon Pearl variety has been known for over 8 centuries. According to legend, jasmine tea appeared from a pearl that the Dragon gave to the girl to save her brother.
Green jasmine tea of this variety differs in that it contains the taste and smell of jasmine flowers. Not jasmine flowers, but only taste and aroma. Jasmine Pearl tea is naturally flavored. To obtain a wonderful drink, the leaves of the plant are manually rolled into small lumps resembling a pearl. Then they are laid with jasmine flowers.
When dried, the jasmine petals release an essential oil that the tea leaves absorb. The delicate aroma of jasmine is stored in the "tea pearl" until cooked. In the prepared drink, the pearls take on the appearance of fantastic flowers. The aroma of tea is successfully combined with the aroma of jasmine flowers.
Properties of jasmine tea
In addition to its sophisticated aroma, Chinese green tea with Hua Long Zhu jasmine has many beneficial properties inherent in this drink. Here is just a small list of the health benefits of jasmine tea:
- calms the nervous system;
- lowers blood cholesterol levels;
- the walls of the blood vessels become stronger;
- increases the metabolic rate in the body;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- cleanses the kidneys and liver.
Scientists believe that jasmine tea improves eyesight, reduces weight, and stimulates digestion. Jasmine tea can prolong youth and prevent cancer by helping to eliminate toxins from the body.
In addition to benefits, jasmine tea can also bring harm - the drink is not recommended for people with high blood pressure.
How to make jasmine tea properly
For the full disclosure of the best qualities and properties, Chinese tea is prepared according to a special recipe. A glass teapot is best for making a drink. In this case, one can observe how the "tea pearls" unfold, turning into exotic flowers.
Tea with jasmine is poured into a pre-warmed teapot, at the rate of 1 teaspoon per 1 cup. Water heated to the "white key" is poured into the kettle and immediately drained. This is done in order to "revive" the pearls. Then hot water is poured into the teapot and infused for at least 2 minutes.
From the teapot, the drink is poured out without residue in order to prevent an increase in the strength of the drink. Hua Long Zhu can be brewed up to 5 times.
Jasmine tea can be prepared in another way - directly in the cup. One teaspoon of tea leaves is poured into a heated mug and filled with hot water. After two minutes, you can start drinking tea.
It is not for nothing that jasmine tea is named after the Dragon - the symbol of China. The dragon playing with the pearl personifies the power of the heavenly forces. If a Chinese dragon gives a magic pearl to a person, it will surely bring health, luck and well-being.
