Jasmine Tea and its benefits

30-Mar-2009

Tags: Jasmine , Tea , Herbal , Drink , Cup Jasmine , Tea , Herbal , Drink , Cup , Brew , Leaf , Leaves , Benefits , Cancer , Weightloss , Water , Health , Diet , Catechin more less

Jasmine Tea is a famous tea made from Green or Pouchong (Chinese Green) tea leaves that are scented with jasmine flowers. In addition to providing a rich floral scent, the flowers add a subtle note to the tea which many people find quite enjoyable. Jasmine tea is a highly aromatic variety of tea. If you've never tried Jasmine tea, you're missing a real treat. The special blend of high quality loose tea leaves with jasmine petals makes jasmine tea so special. Jasmine tea is most often made using green tea. Because jasmine tea is so common, however, it's important to ensure that you're choosing only the best quality tea when you purchase your jasmine tea.

Health benefits: Jasmine tea is regarded as one of the healthiest teas enjoyed by tea drinkers all over the world.

• Most green teas with jasmine contain a significant amount of polyphenols, plant-based substances which have proven to have antiviral, anticancer and antioxidant properties.
• By eliminating free radicals it prevents some forms of cancer, which also arrests aging.
• It also connects with cholesterol and blocks it, decreases level of cholesterol in blood, as well as prevents bad cholesterol, caused by oxidation.
• The impact of jasmine tea on circulatory system is even more beneficial, since it is believed to prevent brain strokes, heart attacks, thrombosis and arterial sclerosis.

• It is good for diabetes prevention and reducing high blood pressure.
• Jasmine tea fights viruses and bacteria, preventing thus influenza, cavities and food poisoning, including cholera, dysentery, mouth bacteria damaging teeth and piccoli causing gastric ulcers.
• It helps to improve intestine conditions by blocking development and growth of bad bacteria and strengthening good bacteria.
• Gargling with jasmine green tea is also believed to be one of the most effective ways to protect oneself from influenza, as the tea performs anti-viral functions.
• Recent studies show that drinking jasmine tea may fight fat. People who consumed tea with green tea extract during the period of three months lost more fat as compared to those who consumed regular oolong tea.
• It has the ability to reduce the risk of blood clot, prevent allergy and flue, and reduce high blood pressure and blood sugar.

How to prepare a nice cup of Jasmine tea:

1. Use fresh cold water. Never make tea with water from the hot tap.
2. While the water is heating, get the tea things ready. Use porcelain/chinaware cups to make Jasmine teas. A small porcelain cup is preferable to a large one, as the amount of boiling water used in a large one may "stew" the leaves and results in flat-tasting tea
3. Warm the porcelain cup by rinsing it with hot water. Just before the water in the kettle boils, empty the cups and add tea.
4. An optional step before adding boiling water to tea is called "rinsing the tea leaves." After the tea leaves have been added to the porcelain cup, pour in a little boiling water and drain it off immediately.
5. Finally, do not use boiling water, but pour the 90 degrees water into the porcelain cup until is it half full and then cover with the lid.
6.  After 3 to 5 minutes pour more water into the porcelain cup filling the other half of the cup. The best time to start drinking the tea is in the next 1 to 2 minutes. Let the tea stand.
7. The best tea is made by infusing for a short time rather than steeping for a longer period. Very fine tea only needs to stand for an extremely short time.
8. Never use cream. The tannin causes cream to curdle. Milk is sometimes used with oolong.
9. Before pouring, stir the tea or shake the porcelain cup and then let the leaves settle, Pour into cups through a tea strainer.
10. Strain off any tea left in the pot/cup into another warmed pot/cup, and cover with the tea cover. Don't let the tea stand with the leaves in too long.

The content of catechin generally varies by the amount of jasmine green tea used, as well as steeping time. However, it is recommended to consume at least four cups a day. Not only will you enjoy the benefits that jasmine tea has to offer, but you are also increasing your consumption of water each day without thinning about it. So what are you waiting for? Getting brewing!

(Sources: wisegeek.com, ezinearticles.com, syl.com, innteas.com)

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