Jasmine is a flowering vine in the olive family. Jasmine flowers are often blended with green or oolong tea to produce a slightly sweet, soothing taste and aroma. The delicate Jasmine flower opens only at night during the full moon and is plucked in the morning when the tiny petals are tightly closed.

 

They are then stored in a cool place until the evening, as the temperature cools, and the petals begin to open. Flowers and tea are “mated” in machines that control temperature and humidity. It takes four hours or so for the tea to absorb the fragrance and flavor of the Jasmine blossoms, and for the highest grades, this process may be repeated as many as seven times.

 
 

The flower petals are sometimes left in tea for presentation, but they can be removed after this process. The presence or absence of jasmine petals in the tea product does not indicate its quality.

 

Recommended Teavana Jasmine Oolong Tea:

Teavana™ Jasmine Oolong Tea    A soothing jasmine bouquet accompanying an intricate Chinese oolong tea. Wonderful for after a meal or in the evening, although this tea does contain some caffeine. Oolong tea is also known as Wu-long tea. $12.50 for 2 oz (25-30 cups of tea)