Jasmine tea facts for kids

Jasmine tea (Chinese: 茉莉花茶; pinyin: mòlìhuā chá or Chinese: 香片; pinyin: xiāng piàn) is a special kind of tea that gets its wonderful smell from jasmine flowers. While most jasmine tea uses green tea as its base, sometimes white tea or black tea are used too. The final taste of jasmine tea is usually a little sweet and smells amazing. It's a very popular drink around the world!

What is Jasmine Tea?

Jasmine tea is not a type of tea plant itself, but rather a scented tea. This means it's a regular tea (like green tea) that has been mixed with real jasmine blossoms to give it a unique flavor and aroma. Think of it like adding spices to food – the jasmine flowers add their own special touch to the tea leaves.

The Scenting Process

Making jasmine tea is a careful process that takes time and skill.

• First, tea leaves are picked and processed, usually into green tea.
• Then, fresh jasmine flowers are picked, often at night when their scent is strongest.
• The tea leaves and jasmine flowers are then layered together. The tea leaves absorb the beautiful scent from the flowers.
• This layering process can be repeated many times, sometimes up to nine times, to make sure the tea has a very strong jasmine smell.
• After the tea has absorbed enough scent, the jasmine flowers are usually removed, though sometimes a few are left in for decoration.

Where Does it Come From?

Jasmine tea has a long history, especially in China.

• It's believed that jasmine tea first became popular during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD) in China.
• The best jasmine teas often come from provinces in China like Fujian, Hunan, and Jiangsu.
• These regions have the perfect climate for growing both tea plants and jasmine flowers.

Types of Jasmine Tea

While green tea is the most common base for jasmine tea, you can find different varieties:

• Jasmine Green Tea: This is the most traditional and popular type. It has a fresh, slightly grassy taste from the green tea, combined with the sweet floral notes of jasmine.
• Jasmine White Tea: White tea is very delicate and lightly processed. When scented with jasmine, it creates a very subtle and smooth drink.
• Jasmine Black Tea: This is less common, but some people enjoy the bolder taste of black tea mixed with the jasmine aroma.

Why People Love Jasmine Tea

Jasmine tea is loved for many reasons:

• Amazing Aroma: Its strong, sweet, and floral smell is very calming and pleasant.
• Refreshing Taste: It's often described as light, sweet, and not bitter, making it easy to drink.
• Versatility: You can drink it hot or cold, and it pairs well with many foods, especially Chinese cuisine.

Images for kids

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  A cup of jasmine tea

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  A friendly robot