Features of jasmine tea and production methods. Calorie content of the drink, useful composition and possible contraindications for use. How are elite varieties brewed? Interesting facts about jasmine tea.
Jasmine tea is a brew made from a mixture of dried tea leaves and flowers from the Olive family botanically named Jasminum (from Persian "yasemin"). The shrub can only be found in tropical and subtropical climates. Flowers are white or yellow, solitary or umbellate, located at the ends of branches or apical shoots. They have a pronounced delicate sweet aroma, which remains even after drying. Varieties with large inflorescences were bred artificially in China, even before our era.
How is jasmine tea made?
The shrub blooms at night, so you have to collect inflorescences at this time of day. Already at dawn, the amount of essential oils in the buds is significantly reduced. Tear off petals without sepals. In order to preserve the properties of a medicinal plant in jasmine tea, in China, each variety is harvested at a certain time of the year:
- Chun-hua Xun - in late spring, in the last days of May and June;
- Xia-hua Xun - in July;
- Fu-hua Xun - at the very end of summer, late August;
- Qiu-hua Xun - after a drop in temperature, in October.
Despite the fact that the plant blooms in the tropics all year round, it is not harvested at other times. The petals are folded into a basket without crushing - they must "breathe" and retain moisture.
There are 2 ways to make jasmine tea:
- The petals are mixed with freshly plucked tea leaves, linen bags are filled with raw materials, compacted, laid out in the sun to dry, and removed to a room with a high temperature overnight. Cooling is unacceptable - rotting will occur. Packing is carried out after the raw material has dried. Pre-crushing of the collection is possible. The price of such a brew is not high.
- The freshly picked petals are laid out in a thin layer interspersed with tea leaves, both fermented and unfermented. Leave for 3-5 months in a cool dry place. Airing is not carried out in order not to lose the precious aroma. Leaves impregnated with a valuable scent can be separated from flowers or packaged together. What elite jasmine tea is made of - leaves, petals or a mixture, is indicated on the package. Such products cannot be cheap - all operations are carried out manually.
When self-collecting flower heads, the petals are laid out in one layer on food parchment, dried in the sun or warm. Store in a glass jar under a tight lid for 1 year.
Note! You should not collect flowers from shrubs found in continental climates. This is not jasmine, but chubushnik. The aroma and shape of the inflorescences are similar to the original tropical shrub, but their properties are different, and the petals are not suitable for brewing tea.
Composition and calorie content of jasmine tea
When a drink is included in the diet, the nutritional value can be ignored.
Elite and cheap varieties of jasmine tea have the same calorie content - 1.1 kcal per 100 g, of which:
- Proteins - 0.2 g;
- Fat - 0.4 g;
- Carbohydrates - 0.3 g;
- Water - 99 g.
As an example, the chemical composition of green tea with flower petals is given.
Vitamins per 100 g:
- Vitamin A - 0.4 μg;
- Vitamin B1, thiamine - 0.001 mg;
- Vitamin B2, riboflavin - 0.008 mg;
- Vitamin C, ascorbic acid - 0.8 mg;
- Vitamin PP - 0.0864 mg.
Macronutrients per 100 g:
- Potassium, K - 18.93 mg;
- Calcium, Ca - 8.24 mg;
- Magnesium, Mg - 4.35 mg;
- Sodium, Na - 1.52 mg;
- Sulfur, S - 0.99 mg;
- Phosphorus, P - 6.3 mg;
- Chlorine, Cl - 1.39 mg.
Microelements per 100 g:
- Iron, Fe - 0.627 mg;
- Manganese, Mn - 0.0016 mg;
- Copper, Cu - 0.6 μg;
- Fluorine, F - 175.57 mcg.
The benefits and harms of jasmine tea are determined by the effect on the human body. It should be borne in mind that it contains not only delicate petals, but also tea leaves, which contain:
- Tannins - gallobin acid from the group of phenolic compounds, which increases blood clotting;
- Caffeine - a purine alkaloid, which is a strong irritant to the nervous system;
- Polyphenols - have an antioxidant effect.
There are fewer of these substances in green varieties, more in black ones. It should be borne in mind that in an elite brew, all the useful properties of the original raw materials are preserved due to the special processing of tea leaves.
Useful properties of jasmine tea
The medicinal properties of the infusion are due to the combination of the properties of the plants that were used to prepare the final product.
The benefits of jasmine tea:
- Reduces the level of "bad" cholesterol and increases the density of lipoprotein.
- It has an antioxidant effect, prevents the development of atherosclerosis.
- Improves the condition of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, accelerates digestion, stops the accumulation of toxins and toxins in the large intestine. Reduces the risk of developing cancer of the digestive organs.
- Stimulates the production of enzymes and bile.
- Increases local immunity at the cellular level.
- Reduces the possibility of a heart attack, stroke, the formation of neoplasms in the reproductive organs and urinary system.
- Improves the condition of the skin and teeth, stops age-related changes.
- Prolongs the life cycle of liver cells, hepatocytes, prevents liver diseases.
- Increases immunity, helps to cope with the first symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections during the season of epidemics, stops the active vital activity of pathogenic viruses and bacteria.
- It inhibits the development of salmonella.
- Increases libido, stimulates sperm production in men, and in women reduces the manifestation of PMS and the unpleasant signs of menopause - hot flashes and pressure drops.
- Eliminates stench from the mouth.
- Relaxes, speeds up falling asleep, helps to recover from stress and withstand emotional pressure.
- It has a beneficial effect on the woman's body after childbirth, helps to avoid depression.
Black jasmine tea tones, helps to improve the condition of dysentery and intestinal colic, to warm up quickly and avoid colds after hypothermia. Chinese healers have used it to treat syphilis. Green is relaxing.
Why jasmine tea is useful for those who control their own weight: it speeds up metabolism, stimulates the transformation of the fat layer and fat burning. But in order to activate the "slimming" properties, regular physical activity is required.
Chinese sages are sure: 3 cups of the drink, which are drunk in small sips during the day, completely relaxing in thoughts of eternal, prolongs existence.
Contraindications and harm of jasmine tea
Allergic reactions may occur after meeting a new taste. Manifestations are both mild - skin redness, itching and rash, and severe - angioedema, bronchospasm. If there is a tendency to allergic reactions and bronchial asthma, it should be introduced into the diet very carefully.
Jasmine tea can harm:
- Pregnant … Abuse can provoke smooth muscle tone and lead to interruption. In addition, a rich aroma often causes toxicosis.
- With exacerbation of chronic diseases of the digestive organs - peptic ulcer, erosive gastritis, chronic pancreatitis and enterocolitis, a tendency to diarrhea.
- Suffering from cardiovascular diseasesto avoid fluctuations in blood pressure.
- With neuropsychic pathologies, including epilepsy, if convulsions are a symptom of the disease.
Young children should not brew jasmine green tea. It is not known what effect the drink will have on the underdeveloped intestinal flora.
One of the properties of jasmine is to accelerate the processing and assimilation of glucose, the production of insulin. Therefore, in case of diabetes mellitus, the possibility of using the drink should be checked with the attending physician. When abused, blood sugar levels can rise significantly.
How to make jasmine tea?
If you want to enjoy a real original taste, you shouldn't save money and buy cardboard packaging. Such a brew is a grated or granular mixture of tea leaves and petals. You need to purchase a large leaf tea, no artificial flavors. Such a product is sold by weight. You should not only look at it, but also smell it.
How to make jasmine tea:
- Water is pre-filtered or special drinking water is obtained, purified. In China, preference is given to the spring.
- Instead of a teapot, a porcelain cup with a lid is used, which is called a gaiwan. As a last resort, prepare a transparent dish - a glass beaker or jar. Ceramics or food grade plastics are not able to preserve the original taste. Before starting the process, the dishes are scalded with boiling water.
- The water is boiled and then cooled to 80-85 ° C.
- First, tea leaves are poured into the container, only then water is poured. The optimal proportions are considered - 1 g of tea mixture per 50 ml of liquid. Close with a lid. In the case of a glass or jar, cover with a clean china saucer.
- Drain the liquid, repeat the brewing process, leave for 2-3 minutes.
- Filter the drink before serving.
Despite the assurances of tea lovers that "the second infusion is already slop", the infusion can be used up to 4 times, increasing the exposure in each case by 30 seconds. The first tea is rich, aromatic and sharp, the last one is much softer, with a delicate aroma.
If you purchased jasmine petals separately, you can experiment with tea leaves:
- Green tea is brewed according to the following recipe … Heat 0.5 L of water and allow to cool to the desired temperature. Rinse the glass with boiling water, add 1 tsp. dried flowers, on them - 3 tsp. green tea of your favorite variety, cover with a lid and let stand for a while. Only then is it poured with liquid. They are waiting for the required fortress.
- Recommendations for brewing with black long tea … First, the ingredients are mixed in the proportions already indicated, the container is closed with a lid and left for 14-24 hours to obtain a rich aroma. Then they are brewed according to the technology already described. You can add a sprig of mint or lemon juice to the drink.
Whichever method and type of brewing you use, you should not sweeten. Lovers of tea with jam should choose a different type of raw material, cheaper. Jasmine tea is not a drink that is washed down with sandwiches or sweets - it is a delight for the soul.
Interesting facts about jasmine tea
There are many legends about the origin of the plant. Italians and Spaniards believed that the souls of Guardian Angels are born in flowers, the ancient Greeks - that this is a gift from Aphrodite, the goddess of wisdom, Indians - as soon as jasmine opens, a new family is born somewhere. And according to the beliefs of the Tatars, it is impossible to get to heaven without growing a fragrant bush.
The translation of the name from Persian means "fragrant", it symbolizes romantic relationships, beauty, secret love. Healers used all parts of the plant to prepare medicines, and the culinary specialists limited themselves to flowers.
The most popular green teas are:
- Jasmine Jade Butterfly … Popular with LPG consumers due to its transformation after immersion in liquid. When swollen in boiling water, the petal unfolds into the wing of a moth. The effect is achieved by a special method of rolling the leaves during pre-cooking. One of the most expensive varieties with a mild and delicate aroma.
- Feng Yang … Healing properties - rejuvenation, increased immunity and body tone. The difference from other varieties is the same type of round tea leaves. Elite varietal brewing.
- Moli Hua Long Zhu, Jasmine Dragon Pearl … Visually similar to granulated tea, but this is far from the case. It's just that each leaf and petal is rolled into a ball resembling a pearl in shape and color. All processes are manual. When the tea leaves are poured over with water, the granules open up. It has a pronounced tonic effect; if abused, it can provoke insomnia.
- Moli Zhen Wang, Lord of the Jasmine Needles … The petals are harvested for him within 2 weeks in the summer, at the hottest time. The aroma and taste are decent, the price is budget. One of the most popular varieties, often packaged in cardboard boxes.
- Moli Cha Wan, "The Lord of Jasmine" … For raw materials, use whitish tea buds, delicate leaves. When made, they are scented with flower petals, which are then removed. It is recommended for cleansing the liver, has a beneficial effect on the hematopoietic function of the body, helps to get rid of old toxins in the intestines and to recover from stress. This is a high quality expensive tea.
- "Jasmine White Monkey" … This animal is painted on the package. The action is immunomodulating and warming. Differs in a tart aftertaste with a light hint of grapes. This jasmine tea is very popular in winter for its warming effects.
- Moli Jin Shan Tian Hua … The recipe for the drink and the method of rolling the leaves is the development of tea growers at the end of the twentieth century. Jasmine bushes and flowers are harvested only in Yunnan province. Only raw materials of the same size are used, which have not been exposed to rain during the growth period. When the leaves are flooded with water, they not only unfold, but also form a trefoil shape.
How to brew jasmine tea - watch the video:
It is customary to drink this aromatic drink from heated cups, enjoying a leisurely conversation on long winter evenings. Jasmine tea will brighten up leisure time for married couples and help to increase sexual desire.
