7 Jasmine Tea Benefits Beyond the Refreshing Taste

Have you been looking for a refreshing summer drink? Look no more, because jasmine tea is here to stay.

Not only is this tea delicious, but it’s also full of healthy benefits. Let’s learn more about those benefits together in this guide on one of our most-loved floral teas.

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What Is Jasmine?

This is a simple question with a surprisingly complex answer. You see, there are actually over 200 species of jasmine.

In its most basic definition, jasmine is a flowering vine that is known for its fragrant flowers. Jasmine’s beloved fragrance can be found in soaps, cosmetics, shampoos, and perfumes. You can even purchase jasmine essential oils for aromatherapy, although they can cost a pretty penny.

However, not all jasmine flowers are scented. Many species of jasmine grow flowers that are completely unscented or only slightly fragrant.

Still, this plant is highly coveted. In fact, it is so revered that its name comes from the Persian word yasamin, which means “gift from God.” Jasmine’s popularity begins in China’s Ming Dynasty, and our love for jasmine just keeps growing throughout the decades.

Jasmine is often incorporated into wedding ceremonies because its small and delicate leaves symbolize modesty in many cultures. In Thailand, jasmine is considered a symbol of motherhood.

Jasmine grows all over the globe, but you’ll find the most variety in Europe and Asia. However, common jasmine (jasminum officinale) typically grows in the southern American states. Jasmine requires heat and humidity, which means that it typically can't survive in the northern states.

Many home gardeners proudly display jasmine in their gardens. Although this is primarily because of its highly revered fragrance, jasmine makes a lovely addition to any garden because of its health benefits, too.

Why Are Jasmine and Green Tea So Compatible?

If you’re familiar with jasmine tea, then you’ve probably noticed that you probably won’t find jasmine tea by itself. Instead, you’ll see a lot of white and green teas flavored with jasmine.

This is because jasmine has a delicate taste that you’ll probably miss on its own. After centuries of trial and error, quite a few tea makers have concluded that jasmine is well-suited as a tasting note in light floral teas like green tea or white tea.

While you may find some jasmine flowers in your favorite tea, the leaves are only there for decoration. The actual jasmine flavor comes from an infusing process that involves placing highly fragrant jasmine blossoms alongside green tea leaves and creating jasmine-scented tea.

This means that while you may enjoy jasmine tea, you are almost always drinking a tea blend that is made using the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. 

Also known as “true teas,” the types of teas made from this plant include black tea, green tea, oolong tea, Pu-erh tea, and white tea. The differences in flavor, health benefits, and caffeine amongst these tea types are due to their harvesting seasons, growing conditions, and oxidation levels.

However, not all jasmine teas use green and white tea as their bases. For instance, Jasmine Orchard Tea by Thésaurus Tea is a jasmine tea that uses oolong as its tea base. This flavored tea also includes fruit pieces, green tea, and safflower petals for a truly delectable experience.

7 Health Benefits of Jasmine Tea

Since jasmine tea is often made with green tea, it shares many benefits with green tea. Grab yourself a soothing cup of jasmine tea and follow along as we explore the wonderful world of jasmine tea.

Overall Wellness

Jasmine tea is a great way to show some love to your future self and support your overall wellness.

Jasmine green tea is high in powerful polyphenols like EGCG. These compounds have been shown to work with your body’s natural chemistry to reduce the risk of long-term cognitive decline that can result in memory loss.

Cognitive Boost

If you have a big presentation coming up, try a cup of jasmine tea for its brain-boosting effects. These effects are due to the tea’s caffeine content and an amino acid called l-theanine. 

L-theanine has been proven to heighten cognitive ability and increase focus. These positive effects are because l-theanine stimulates your body to release gamma-aminobutyric fluid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that can soothe your nervous system.

Jasmine tea also contains caffeine, which is well-known for its energizing effects. Jasmine tea can contain 15 to 60 milligrams of caffeine per cup, depending on which tea it's based on. Of course, the caffeine in tea is absorbed differently by our bodies than caffeine in coffee, meaning we experience a more sustainable energy boost without the jitters and crashes.

You should still make sure your caffeine intake doesn’t exceed 400 milligrams per day. If you have a high sensitivity to caffeine, then a caffeine-free herbal tea may be a better alternative to jasmine green tea.

Heart Health

Jasmine tea’s polyphenols play a huge role in our heart health. 

Some animal studies show that polyphenols in jasmine tea can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels, particularly by keeping oxidized LDL cholesterol or “bad cholesterol” low. This can help put you in a better position when it comes to heart health.

Jasmine tea can also help maintain healthy blood pressure levels, which can, in turn, promote a healthy heart rate. While tea consumption is not a replacement for lifesaving medications, tea tastes amazing and can help keep you comfortable while you wait for a doctor’s appointment.

Metabolic Health

While many people associate metabolism with weight loss or gain, it is much more than that. Your metabolism is related to how your body processes food, creates energy, and spreads that energy around your body.

Having a healthy metabolism is like having a functional engine in a car. If something’s wrong, your system won’t run right.

Jasmine tea can help promote a healthy and efficient metabolism. A particular compound in green tea can actually promote healthy blood sugar levels. If your jasmine tea is based on green tea, then you’ll get this benefit, too.

High in Antioxidants

Oxidative stress can lead to serious damage over time. While your body naturally makes antioxidants, these typically aren’t enough to fight off all the free radicals in your environment. That’s why it’s so important to consume extra electrons through tea or other dietary sources throughout your day for those free radicals to gobble up.

Green tea is high in antioxidants, which means jasmine green tea is, too. Antioxidants like jasmine tea’s polyphenols and catechins can help prevent free radical damage through oxidative stress.

However, green tea has a specific catechin called epigallocatechin gallate, better known as EGCG. This specific antioxidant is incredibly potent and is actually the main reason that jasmine tea has so many health benefits in the first place. 

Emotional Well-Being

We touched on l-theanine earlier, but this handy amino acid does more than boost your energy. L-theanine is also known to reduce feelings of stress and promote relaxation. As an added bonus, feeling less stressed can free up your immune system to better protect you against illness.

Caffeine is another compound in jasmine tea that can promote emotional well-being. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in your brain, which is how it keeps you feeling alert and awake. 

However, caffeine also opens up the opportunity for more dopamine to bind to your neuroreceptors. This means that along with your energy boost, you’re likely to also feel a rush of contentment and well-being.

To experience this particular benefit, we recommend Arabian Night by TeaGschwendner. This jasmine-infused tea is based on both green and black tea, so it has more caffeine than your typical jasmine tea. It also includes rose blossoms and sunflower blossoms for a truly enchanting experience.

Oral Health

Green tea’s catechins do more than just chasing down free radicals — they also help promote good oral health! These amazing compounds can help protect against tooth decay by protecting your teeth against corrosive bacteria.

Not only that, but jasmine tea can also help your breath smell better by targeting odor-causing bacteria. We still recommend that you brush your teeth twice a day, but it doesn’t hurt to drink a few cups of green tea before an important meeting or a hot date.

How To Enjoy Jasmine Tea

If you can’t wait to try jasmine tea, we don’t blame you! There are so many healthy benefits to explore. Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy a yummy cup of jasmine tea.

As a Hot Tea

This method is more traditional, but traditions stick around for a reason. A hot cup of jasmine tea is a lovely mid-afternoon pick-me-up, and it’s sure to become a staple in your daily routine.

First, you’ll select your favorite jasmine tea. If you don’t yet have a favorite, head on over to our shop and check out the Jasmine Tea Collection. With subtle jasmines for every set of taste buds, we just know you’ll come away with a new favorite.

Once you’ve decided, simply place your tea bag (or infuser, if you’re using loose leaf tea) in some hot water. The temperature will vary depending on your tea base, but we’ll go ahead and assume that we’re working with green tea — in which case your steeping water should be about 175℉ and lightly steaming. 

Steep your tea for two to three minutes, and enjoy! 

As an Iced Tea

Iced jasmine tea is a delicious summer treat that we love to enjoy while reading our favorite book. This beverage is light, floral, and refreshing, and we just can’t get enough of it. 

To make iced jasmine tea, simply put a few tea bags of jasmine tea into some cold water, put it in your refrigerator, and let it steep overnight. The ratio of tea to water should be higher than normal hot tea, but the fine details are up to you and your preferences. 

We recommend mixing in some honey or other sugar alternative and serving over ice. You can even garnish your tea with an edible flower or a bit of fruit.

As a Cocktail

While not quite as nutritious, this is still a fun way to enjoy jasmine tea. To enjoy a jasmine cocktail, simply infuse your favorite gin with some jasmine tea. This process only takes a couple of hours, and a lot of that time is spent waiting. We recommend planning a fun activity in the meantime.

Once your gin is infused, combine some lemon juice, honey, filtered water, egg white, and club soda in a mixer. Give it a solid shake, and serve over ice with a lemon garnish.

This cocktail recipe is wonderful for any summer party or cozy night in. If you make it, be sure to tag us on social media so we can raise our glass with you. 

Final Thoughts

Jasmine is known around the world for its powerful fragrance, but we really enjoy this delicate aroma in a cup of tea. Not only does jasmine tea taste delicious, but it has numerous benefits that range from boosting your brainpower to kicking bad breath to the curb.

For more fun teas, check out our monthly tea subscription. Simply tell us your preferences, and we’ll deliver our hand-picked tea suggestions to your doorstep every month. Can it get any better than that?

Interested in trying these teas and others? Subscribers receive 4 teas chosen just for them in every box. Learn more about our tea subscription box or explore the loose leaf tea shop.

About Sips by: We’re a female-founded and led startup that makes discovering tea fun, personalized, and affordable. The Sips by Box is the only multi-brand, personalized tea subscription box. Each month, we match tea drinkers across the U.S. with delicious teas from over 150 global tea brands that we’re sure they’ll love. Based out of Austin, Texas, we are adept at savoring a hot mug even when it’s seasonally inappropriate. 

Sources:

Tea Enhances Insulin Activity | Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry 

Coffee, Caffeine, Mood and Emotion | Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee 

Inhibition of Acid Production in Dental Plaque Bacteria by Green Tea Catechins | Caries Research