8 Amazing Health Benefits of Jasmine Tea

Wednesday, December 2, 2020, 16:44

People have been enjoying drinking jasmine tea for centuries. Jasmine tea first gained popularity in China during the Ming dynasty. It is believed to be native to Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Himalayan regions. Jasmine tea is grown worldwide with Asia being the largest producer of jasmine tea.

What Is Jasmine Tea?

Jasmine tea is made from a combination of tea leaves and jasmine blossoms. Jasmine teas are made from both the varieties of the jasmine plant: common jasmine (Jasminum officinale) or sampaguita (Jasminum sambac). Jasmine flowers have a deep fragrant sweet smell, which gives jasmine tea a delicate flavour and sweet floral aroma.

Typically, jasmine tea is made by infusing jasmine blossoms into green tea, but sometimes black tea or white tea is used instead. Jasmine tea can be enjoyed hot or cold.

Jasmine teas can also be flavoured or scented, which is made by infusing tea leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant with jasmine blossoms, jasmine fruit, jasmine oil, spices, extracts, or other ingredients to provide additional flavour.

Jasmine tea boasts numerous health benefits, most of its benefits are attributed to the green tea leaves in it.

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Health Benefits Of Jasmine Tea

1. May aid weight loss

Jasmine tea may help losing weight by increasing metabolism. It possesses fat burning properties, thanks to its caffeine content andpolyphenol antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Drinking jasmine tea will increase the fat burning process and help you lose weight [1] [2].

2. Boosts brain function

Jasmine tea contains caffeine and L-theaninethat help in boosting brain function [3]. Caffeine is known to increase brain activity and help in releasing dopamine and serotonin, the neurotransmitters that regulate mood; this makes you feel more alert and energised. And L-theanine, an amino acid promotes relaxation and reduces stress without causing drowsiness [4] [5].

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3. Promotes heart health

Jasmine tea is high in polyphenol antioxidants that have been shown to prevent LDL (bad) cholesterol from oxidising. Oxidised LDL cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease [6]. Drinking jasmine tea daily will reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

4. Improves oral health

Green tea which is used as a base to make jasmine tea is packed with catechins, a group of polyphenols that may help protect against tooth decay by killing plaque-forming bacteria [7]. Other studies have also shown that drinking jasmine tea can help eliminate bad breath by reducing bacteria in the mouth [8].

5. May prevent neurodegenerative disorders

The presence of polyphenol antioxidants in jasmine tea may help lower the risk of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Noted studies have shown that people who drink jasmine tea had a lower risk of neurodegenerative disorders than non-tea drinkers [9] [10].

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6. May lower diabetes risk

Jasmine tea made from green tea may decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes due to the presence of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in it. EGCG can help your body use insulin more effectively and lower blood sugar levels, thereby lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes [11].

7. May manage cancer risk

As jasmine tea is high in antioxidants, it may reduce the risk of certain cancers. Test-tube and animal studies found that polyphenol antioxidants such as EGCG in green tea can suppress the growth and spread of cancer cells [12]. However, further studies are needed in humans.

8. Enhances skin health

Jasmine tea possesses antioxidants that can help keep your skin healthy. The powerful antioxidants slow down the ageing process by eliminating free radicals that cause wrinkles and skin damage.

Side Effects Of Jasmine Tea

Jasmine is generally recognised as safe (GRAS) as a food ingredient by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However, occasional allergic reactions to jasmine have been reported. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should consult the doctor before drinking jasmine tea [13].

How To Make Jasmine Tea

Jasmine tea can be found in the form of tea bags, loose leaves and jasmine pearls. It is best to choose loose tea leaves and jasmine pearls to make jasmine tea.

Boil water in a pot at a temperature between 160 - 180 degree Fahrenheit.
Take few tea leaves and jasmine pearls and add them to the pot. Allow it to steep for 30 seconds to 3 mins.
Strain the tea and add honey or sugar and serve.

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