Discovering The Hidden Health Benefits Of Jasmine Green Tea
Jasmine tea is a beverage that is almost as old as water itself! Tea lovers have celebrated jasmine tea in the culinary arts for thousands of years. At the same time, health-conscious people have used it as a traditional medicine to help with digestive issues, manage weight, reduce stress, and improve overall health. This article will dive deep into jasmine green tea's vast and rich world, exploring its history and the several ways it can help heal systems of the body.
The Origins of Jasmine Green Tea
Jasmine green tea is a unique floral and earthy blend of two distinct components: green tea leaves and jasmine flowers picked from the common jasmine plant. The origins of jasmine tea can be traced back to ancient China, where tea lovers first brewed it during the Ming Dynasty (960-1279 AD).
Drinking jasmine tea has a rich history deeply rooted in the hearts of many cultures, particularly in East Asia. The delicate aroma of the jasmine blossoms infused with green tea leaves was designed for periods of relaxation, reflection, and celebration.
In China, the art of serving jasmine tea is an elaborate tradition and ceremony that carries forward to today. Serving and drinking jasmine tea is steeped in tradition as a symbol of hospitality. In Chinese households, it's customary to offer guests a cup of jasmine tea as a welcoming gesture to their home.
Jasmine tea is often the beverage of choice during the Chinese New Year celebrations, symbolizing good luck and prosperity. In Japan, the tea ceremony, known as "chanoyu," frequently features jasmine tea to welcome and honor guests, creating a peaceful atmosphere to visit, share a laugh, and have meaningful conversations.
Today, people enjoy jasmine tea in several ways. Some even like to add milk to create a jasmine milk tea. It's a unique way to enjoy the subtle taste of the existing tea with the creaminess of the milk.
From The Tea Plant To Your Tea Cup
Jasmine green tea is primarily produced in China's Fujian province because it has the best climate for growing jasmine blossoms. The meticulous process of creating this tea involves several steps, beginning with the cultivation of green tea and jasmine plants. Let's explore these steps in detail:
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Harvesting green tea leaves: All green and black teas come from the Camellia sinensis plant, while herbal tea is made from the flowers, roots, and leaves of other plants like peppermint and chamomile. The harvesting process starts with carefully plucking young, tender green tea leaves, specifically selected for their freshness and quality, to give you the best green tea flavor.
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Growing jasmine flowers: While the tea leaves are harvested, the jasmine blossoms are also picked from the jasmine plant. These delicate flowers require a specific climate and are usually grown in the same region as green tea plants. Evenings are the best time to pick the flowers since their fragrance is at its peak. That strong scent gives the delightful floral aspect of jasmine green tea.
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Layering and scenting: Once harvested, the tea leaves and fresh jasmine flowers are layered together precisely to create the perfect jasmine green tea. The flowers are usually spread over the green tea base in the evening so that as they begin to bloom, they release their fragrance onto the tea leaves.
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Drying: After several hours of what is known as "scenting," the green tea base fully absorbs the aromatic oils from the jasmine flowers, and the drying process begins. Careful attention is taken during drying to prevent moisture retention in the flowers and leaves so that the tea blend maintains its desired flavor and aroma.
The result of all that attention and planning creates a harmonious marriage of the earthy and grassy notes of the tea leaves and the sweet floral aroma of the jasmine blossoms.
When drinking jasmine green tea, those flavors and aromas instantly create a pleasurable experience for the senses. However, there's more to jasmine green tea than an exceptional taste; you'll also get many incredible health benefits in every sip.
The Health Benefits of Drinking Jasmine Tea
Whether you want to lose a few extra pounds, feel less stressed, or focus better, jasmine tea benefits several body systems. Let's take a closer look into the benefits of jasmine tea and how it can help with your overall health and well-being.
#1. Rich in Antioxidants
Like all other green teas, jasmine green tea is packed full of health-boosting antioxidants, such as catechins. These remarkable compounds are pivotal in protecting your body from free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that can cause cellular damage, leading to oxidative stress and a cascade of health issues like Alzheimer's disease and even cancer.
Like jasmine green tea, the potent epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is among the several catechins in green teas. This powerful compound has been associated with a multitude of healthy properties, including facilitating weight management, enhancing blood sugar regulation, and promoting both heart and oral health. If you regularly consume green tea, you reap the rewards of this antioxidant-rich beverage.
#2. Better Weight Management and Weight Loss
As people search endlessly for solutions to effective weight management, jasmine teas are making their mark as a helpful ally in the pursuit of shedding those extra pounds. Tea polyphenols called catechins, especially EGCG, can help support your weight loss goals. Research shows that these bioactive compounds can help ignite metabolic fires, considerably burning unwanted fat cells and promoting a healthier weight.
Metabolism, often referred to as the body's internal engine, indicates how many calories are burned for energy. Jasmine tea offers a gentle but supporting metabolic boost, so your body is better equipped to convert food into energy. This process contributes to quicker and better weight loss. Jasmine tea also contains anti-inflammatory properties that reduce blood sugar levels, and jasmine tea is naturally sweet. So, to help cut sugar cravings, reach for a warm cup of this tea instead of a soda.
It is worth noting that even though a cup of jasmine tea has a delicious flavor profile that can accommodate even the sweetest of sweet tooths, nothing helps you lose weight faster than following a routine of healthy eating and exercise.
#3. A Heart Health Helper
Among the many health benefits of jasmine tea is how it can contribute to a better-functioning heart while preventing heart disease. One of the ways jasmine tea assists a healthy heart is by lowering LDL cholesterol levels.
More commonly known as "bad" cholesterol, oxidized LDL cholesterol can create several health problems, such as heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke because it sticks to the artery walls. With clear and healthy arteries, you can prevent heart disease, poor circulation, high blood pressure, and several other health problems from affecting your heart's health.
#4. Preventing Digestive Dilemmas
When you drink jasmine tea, you feel relaxed and calm, and can settle an upset stomach and create a better functioning digestive system. For thousands of years, one of the most common uses for jasmine tea has been to help promote better digestion. It was not uncommon for someone to pour themselves a cup of this tea after a big meal or if they were dealing with conditions such as bloating, gas, nausea, or vomiting.
Today, jasmine tea is still seen as a traditional way to soothe an upset stomach and provide relief when any stomach disorder takes over and affects daily life. Green tea consumption alone has always helped break down food for better digestion and nutrient absorption. Tea polyphenols also act as a prebiotic that helps keep your gut microbiome in check and functioning correctly.
#5. Less Stress/More Peace
In this busy world we call modern life, a fragrant cup of jasmine tea can give us a tranquil escape from all the chaos. The scent of the jasmine flower alone can put us at ease almost instantly, and there is some science behind this. The fragrance of jasmine has been used for centuries as aromatherapy because of its ability to create a calming feeling for those who inhale the delicate, floral notes. Sipping jasmine tea acts as a potent stress-relief remedy.
However, there may be more to drinking jasmine tea than just relaxation. Research shows that the scent of jasmine essential oils soothes the nervous system and helps promote better mental health by managing depression, stress, and anxiety. The secret behind this power lies in the profound impact of the scent of jasmine oil on a crucial neurotransmitter in the nervous system known as GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).
Jasmine tea contains the amino acid l-theanine, and by consuming jasmine tea and this amino acid, you can foster mental clarity, improve focus, and have a more balanced and peaceful state of being.
#6. Brain Booster
In addition to calming us down, jasmine tea can also help us think. All teas, such as black tea, green tea, and even white tea, play a role in giving the brain what it needs to function properly, and research suggests that the compounds in jasmine tea can help boost brain function.
Black tea and green tea are well known for their healthy dose of antioxidants and beneficial compounds. These compounds provide the foundation for better cognitive function, and the caffeine content in black tea and green tea is milder than in coffee. This means the caffeine intake you experience with jasmine tea offers a gentle, more subtle energy boost that can sharpen mental alertness without all of those unpleasant caffeine jitters. This "pick-me-up" effect can be a valuable asset during moments of fatigue or when you need mental clarity, like writing a test or driving a car.
#7 Helps Fight Cancer
Though more research is needed, some studies have suggested that the antioxidants in green tea may help protect against certain types of cancer, such as breast, prostate, and lung cancer, and even help reduce the number of cancer cells present.
One study found that individuals who consumed a substantial quantity of green tea, equivalent to roughly 40.6 ounces (1.2 liters) daily, while also taking green tea extract tablets experienced a 51.6% reduction in the recurrence of colon cancer cells among those already diagnosed with colon cancer. This discovery points to the cancer-fighting potential that jasmine green tea may possess.
#8. Helps Boost Immune Health
Green, jasmine, black tea, and even white tea contain a healthy dose of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a vital compound that offers several health benefits to the body. One way this compound works is by strengthening your immune system.
Whether you're drinking green, black, or white tea, you're enhancing the production of immune cells and regulating their activity. EGCG fortifies the immune system and the body's ability to recognize and combat invading pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, from entering the body and wreaking havoc on everything from the cardiovascular to the central nervous system.
Drink Your Way To Better Health With Jasmine Tea
Jasmine tea is a surefire way to get a ton of flavor and health benefits in every sip. You can help heal your heart, lose weight, reduce stress, and even help in the fight against cancer. However, not all jasmine teas are created equal. In your quest for better health, you need products free from additives and artificial ingredients.
Most jasmine teas that are mass-produced in tea bag form contain fewer health properties because the leaves are pulverized to a fine powder containing very little of the essential oils - the place where all the goodness lies. For a refreshing and delicious jasmine tea taste, skip the tea bags and look for jasmine teas and jasmine tea blends like this one that incorporate the best loose-leaf tea leaves and freshest jasmine petals.