Tea has been savoured in China for more than 4,000 years. Set against this backdrop, jasmine tea appears as an upstart. It made its first appearance just 500 years ago, during the Ming dynasty, and quickly grew in popularity. Today it is the most popular variety of the drink.
The fact that flower teas are a Ming innovation is unsurprising. The Ming, famous for the floral decoration of their exquisite porcelain, were obsessed with the shapes, colours and scents of flowers.
Jasmine tea is made by layering green tea leaves with jasmine petals, so that essential oils pass from the flowers into the absorbent young tea leaves. The heady scent and sweet flavour of jasmine make a marvellous complement to the sharp, subtly astringent qualities of fine green tea, and the tea has been ascribed excellently relaxing and soothing qualities.
Birt&Tang's Jasmine tea is certified organic.
Ingredients: Green tea · Jasmine flowers
