It might be common knowledge that tea is an excellent drink to add to your routine, or maybe that is news to you. Most teas are filled with healthy antioxidants that can boost your overall health and well being. In this article, we’ll be discussing the benefits of jasmine tea. Jasmine tea is unlike other more common teas because it has some added benefits, plus it tastes and smells divine. Keep reading to discover why you should consider adding this tea to your daily routine.
What is Jasmine Tea?
Let’s begin by explaining exactly what jasmine tea is and how it differs from other types of tea. Jasmine tea is made from the same Camellia sinensis tea leaves as other standard teas. In fact, the only difference between jasmine tea and other teas is that jasmine tea is scented with the aroma of jasmine blossoms.
Usually, jasmine tea uses green tea as its base. In some cases, white tea or black tea are used instead. Jasmine tea typically has a subtle, sweet taste, and a strong, appealing scent.
The jasmine plant has been used to scent teas since the fifth century in China. There is also a history of jasmine tea in Japan. Today, it is consumed all over the world for its reported health benefits.
What are the Health Benefits of Jasmine Tea?
Let’s take a look at some of the best-known jasmine tea benefits and find out how much truth there is to them. Is Jasmine tea really that different from other teas? Or does it actually offer its own unique benefits?
1. Good for Your Skin’s Complexion
Many people swear by jasmine tea as a route to glowing, clear skin. But can the beverage really transform your complexion? Lots of beauty aficionados use this type of tea applied directly to the skin as a toner. However, it seems drinking the tea can also help your skin’s appearance.
One study shows that white jasmine tea can have a positive effect. By drinking the tea, certain antioxidants help to improve the skin’s production of collagen and elastin, two of the main structural proteins found naturally in the skin. As we get older, these proteins are produced less, causing wrinkles and a loss of elasticity in the skin.
Drinking white jasmine tea may help to boost your skin’s levels of these proteins, thus giving you that sought-after youthful glow that everyone is after. However, it’s important to note that there is not a “magic fix” when it comes to healthy skin.
2. Boost the Immune System
The immune system is a key component of our overall health. It is the system that helps us to fight off infections and illnesses that enter the body. Jasmine tea has been proven to help boost the functioning of the immune system thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This is why Ayurvedic practitioners promote jasmine tea for it’s polyphenol content, which is largely due to the tea leaves.
3. Weight Loss
If you’re trying to lose weight, you may find it difficult. One way to speed up the weight loss process is to increase your metabolism. A quick metabolism means that you are able to process foods quickly and efficiently. Green tea has been shown to speed up the metabolic rate.
Additionally, the catechins in green tea leaves have mild fat-burning qualities. Jasmine green tea, therefore, is perfect if you’re trying to keep the pounds off. Incorporating it as part of a healthy diet and exercise plan may help to promote weight loss or weight stabilization.
4. Protects Your Heart
It’s crucial that you protect your heart from a range of dangerous conditions and diseases. If you suffer from high cholesterol, you may be at risk of strokes, blood clots, or even heart attacks. Heart disease causes 1 in 4 deaths, making it the leading cause of death in the US. Lowering your cholesterol can keep your heart healthy.
Green tea in general has been shown to have a positive effect on bad LDL cholesterol levels. But, thanks to catechins and polyphenols, compounds found in jasmine tea, adding jasmine green tea to your diet may help you maintain steady, healthy cholesterol thus protecting you from serious heart conditions.
5. May Lower Your Risk of Disease and Cancer
Antioxidants can help to reduce the risk of deadly diseases and cancer in the body. In green and black tea, polyphenols and catechins are the main antioxidants. These antioxidants have been shown to be highly effective in helping the body to eliminate free radicals that enter the body and result in cellular damage. By eliminating free radicals, you may reduce your risk of developing cancer.
6. Can Help Reduce Anxiety and Stress
Protecting your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. In fact, serious stress and anxiety can eventually lead to dangerous physical conditions.
Jasmine tea is known for its pleasing aroma. This scent can help to calm the nervous system, in turn helping to calm the mind and the heart rate. These relaxing effects of jasmine can reduce the impact and severity of anxiety episodes and their side effects. It may also promote reduced feelings of depression and sadness, according to Ayurvedic medicine.
7. Can Help with your Digestive System
The antibacterial and antimicrobial properties in jasmine tea have shown to aid with digestion by tackling any harmful agents that are stuck in the digestive tract. It can also help to promote beneficial bacterial growth in the intestine. Drinking jasmine tea can help you to digest your food more quickly and with fewer complications, promoting reduction in diarrhea, ulcers, and stomach cramps.
8. Boost Focus, Alertness, and Brain Function
Jasmine tea has been shown to support healthy brain function. The caffeine boost in jasmine tea will help to propel you through the afternoon, increasing alertness. However, the relaxing properties of jasmine will help to keep you calm and fend off those caffeine jitters. Most jasmine tea-drinkers describe their mental state as being both relaxed and attentive.
9. Improves Oral Health
Like other green teas, jasmine tea can be beneficial for your oral health. This is because it is jam-packed with catechins. These polyphenols help to kill plaque and other oral bacteria, thus reducing your risk of tooth decay or cavities.
What are the Downsides of Jasmine Tea?
Jasmine tea has multiple health benefits and can promote increased overall quality of life. Are there any downsides? Is it too good to be true? There are a few reasons to avoid jasmine tea.
- Caffeine- Induced Jitters: Because jasmine tea does contain some caffeine, it’s possible to overdo it. Too much caffeine can have harmful effects on the body. You may start feeling anxious, jittery, or even paranoid as your heart rate speeds up. Try to steer away from jasmine tea if you already drink plenty of caffeine each day – or, replace your daily cup of coffee with this tea instead to reduce your overall caffeine consumption. Or, switch to a caffeine-free version!
- Trouble Sleeping: While one cup of jasmine tea can relax your nervous system, thanks to the soothing jasmine aroma, too much will likely have the reverse effect on the nervous system thanks to the caffeine.
- Can Result in an Allergic Reaction:A small percentage of people may be allergic to one or more ingredient in jasmine tea. If you notice sneezing or nasal itching, it may be best to avoid this type of tea.
- Risk For Allergic Reaction: Green tea can cause some complications and interactions with some types of medications. There is a long list of medications to be careful of, including antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, anxiety drugs, blood thinners, and others. If you are on prescribed medication, it may be best to speak with your doctor about whether jasmine tea is suitable for you.
Are Some Brands of Jasmine Tea Better Than Others?
Jasmine tea has been a popular drink for centuries. It’s no surprise that there are plenty of different brands out there to choose from. Here are a few of our top picks, in no particular order. We chose these based on look, taste, and other reviews.
- Kusmi Jasmine Green Tea: This delicious blend has a classic green tea base. It comes in a gorgeous air-tight tin so these loose leaves will stay fresh for months while looking gorgeous on your kitchen shelves.
- JING Tea White Jasmine Tea: Try a slightly more rare variant of jasmine tea with these white tea leaves. JING makes exceptional loose leaf tea in simple, chic packaging.
- Harney & Sons Dragon Pearl Jasmine Tea: This tea comes in a stylish, classic black tin. It’s made with standard green tea leaves and is known for its delightful Jasmine scent.
- Twinings Jasmine Green Tea Bags: If you prefer the quick and easy option of a teabag, the world-famous Twinings offers a lovely jasmine tea option. With tea bags, you won’t need to worry about brewing the perfect cup of tea with loose leaves.
FAQs about Jasmine Tea Benefits
If you still have some burning questions about jasmine tea, we’ve got you covered. Read on to find out some of the most frequently asked questions about jasmine tea and its benefits.
How many cups of jasmine tea should I drink a day?
There is no hard and fast rule about how much jasmine tea you should drink. A few cups a day may offer a variety of benefits because of all of the antibacterial and antimicrobial properties in the tea. After a few weeks of getting into the routine of drinking this tea, you may start to feel more alert, more calm, and generally more healthy as far as your internal systems go.
However, because of the caffeine content in the tea, you should try to limit your intake to two or three cups a day, or choose a caffeine-free version. If you’re worried that you’re getting too much caffeine, find out how much is in each cup.
Most jasmine teas (made with green tea) contain around 25 mg of caffeine. For the average adult, around 400 mg is generally thought to be safe.
Is it OK to drink jasmine tea before bed?
A small cup of jasmine tea is perfectly fine to drink before bed. The soothing, relaxing aroma of jasmine can even help you nod off quickly and fall into a deep rejuvenating sleep. However, because it does contain caffeine, some people find it has a reverse effect. Everyone’s response will be different, so try jasmine tea as a bedtime drink and see if it works for you.
When is the best time to drink jasmine tea?
A little while ago, we wrote and published an indepth article on the best time to drink various teas. However, long story short most tea drinkers recommend jasmine tea as a pre-meal or pre-bed drink. This is because it can help to sooth the digestive system and the nervous system to help digest food effectively, and get a good night’s sleep.
Can you drink too much jasmine tea?
The only problem with too much jasmine tea is the risk of overdosing on caffeine. However, it’s highly unlikely that this will occur unless you drink over eight cups a day. If you are overly sensitive to caffeine, or you happen to have had a few cups of coffee already, a strong cup of jasmine tea may result in shakiness, jitteriness, or sleeping problems.
Can you make jasmine tea at home?
If you are interested in concocting your very own jasmine tea at home it is possible. This way, you can add as much jasmine as you want to your blend.
- Start with black or green tea leaves in a jar.
- Add jasmine flowers for anywhere from 24 hours to a few weeks to perfume the tea leaves.
- Then, simply spoon your tea leaves into your tea bags or your tea strainer and you’re ready to brew.
Final Thoughts
We hope this article has helped you to understand all of the varied benefits of jasmine tea. As you can see, this unique tea blend comes with tons of healthy benefits. Because the negative side effects are rare, just about everyone can enjoy a few cups of this delicious tea every single day. Have you had good experiences with this lovely tea? Let us know why you love it!
