What Does Jasmine Tea Taste Like?
Jasmine tea is a scented tea that is popular around the world, but it might be a tea that you have not tried just yet. If you are looking to try a new tea, then jasmine tea is a great option for you!
But what does jasmine tea taste like? Jasmine tea has a beautifully floral taste and aroma. While there is some sweetness to it, there is slight bitterness as well — this is due to the base of jasmine tea being made with different teas, such as black tea or green tea.
If you want to learn more about jasmine tea, keep reading to find out all you need to know about what it tastes like, the aroma, the floral notes, and the best jasmine teas to try out!
Flavor Notes Of Jasmine Tea
Jasmine flowers have a very fragrant, floral scent to them, and this is carried on to the tea as well!
The flavor of jasmine tea is soft and delicate and is highlighted by the floral aroma of the jasmine flowers.
There is also some sweetness in jasmine tea, which helps to highlight the floral flavor notes. As it is made with a tea base of green tea or black tea, it does have some of that natural tea bitterness, but it is not overwhelming.
As there are different brands of jasmine tea, the flavor profile does depend on the strength of the tea and the base it is blended with, as well as how the jasmine tea has been made. It could be a strong flavor profile, or it might be more subtle.
How Jasmine Tea Is Scented
Jasmine tea is a scented tea, which means that it is a floral substance added to a tea base of either green or black tea.
There are different ways that tea can be scented with jasmine that also have an effect on the flavor and aroma of the tea, how it should be brewed, and what it looks like when it is brewed.
Here are the ways that jasmine tea is scented and infused with a tea base!
Jasmine Tea Bud Scenting
One of the ways that jasmine tea is created is by scenting tea leaves with jasmine buds. The buds are picked from the jasmine plant while they are still closed, and they are then placed on loose tea leaves, whichever the base is.
The buds then begin to bloom! As they bloom, they release oils, which seep into the tea leaves, scenting and flavoring them with the jasmine essence.
This process can take a few days, depending on how strong the jasmine flavor needs to be. This type of scenting process gives the tea leaves a subtle flavor, with the floralness of the jasmine buds, as well as some sweetness too.
Jasmine Pearls
A stronger scent of jasmine tea is achieved by making jasmine pearls.
Jasmine pearls are made by rolling tea leaves and jasmine buds into small balls, which look like pearls. This allows the oils from the jasmine buds to seep into the leaves for longer, giving them a strong, fragrant flavor.
Jasmine pearl tea is known to have an intense jasmine flavor and some beautiful fresh notes — this is the right tea to choose if you want something with a strong flavor and fragrant aroma.
The Different Bases For Jasmine Tea
Jasmine buds need to be added to a tea base — this will give the selected tea that jasmine quality, and allow the oils from the buds to seep into the base.
There are different bases that can be used as a base for jasmine tea, but the two best options are black tea leaves and green tea leaves.
Keep in mind that the tea base used will have an effect on the taste and quality of the jasmine tea.
Jasmine tea is most popularly made with a green tea base. Green tea leaves highlight the fresh and floral fragrance of the jasmine and add a very balanced flavor to the refreshing and floral drink.
Green tea also does not have a very strong tea flavor, so the combination of jasmine buds and green tea leaves gives you a very subtle and gentle flavor, and it allows the jasmine to really show off its aroma.
Black tea has a strong, more robust flavor that can pair well with jasmine buds, but it does have a richer flavor. With black tea leaves, the flavor would come mostly from the black tea, but it will still have hints of floral jasmine to it.
Another option which is less popular than the two, but which is very beautiful, is white tea. White tea leaves are naturally very floral, so pairing them with jasmine creates a very flowery tea that is delicate and refreshing.
How Strong Is The Flavor Of Jasmine Tea?
Jasmine tea always has a very noticeable flavor and aroma to it. How strong the aroma and flavor are will depend on how the jasmine tea has been scented, the ratio of jasmine buds to tea leaves, and how long the tea has been left to brew.
You can choose a more subtle and delicate jasmine tea that has a mild flavor to it or you can go for a more dominant jasmine flavor, which will be aromatic, fragrant, and packed with floral notes.
Again, jasmine pearl tea tends to be the best option for a stronger tea!
Will Jasmine Tea Smell Like Jasmine Flowers?
Proper, high-quality jasmine tea will smell like the delicate floral aroma of jasmine, the tea leaves themselves, and the combination of the two thanks to the resultant brew.
The strength of the aroma will depend on the strength of the tea and how long you have left it to brew.
Make sure to purchase high-quality jasmine teas to ensure that they are made with real jasmine buds and real tea leaves —you want to be sure that jasmine oil isn’t being used to highlight the floral aroma!
What Are The Health Benefits Of Jasmine Tea?
Other than the great flavors and aromas that you get with jasmine tea, there are some health benefits to drinking the tea.
Jasmine flowers are high in antioxidants, which are always great to include in your diet! They are also known to help aid digestion and work as a relaxant, helping you destress after a long day and settle down easier at night.
Does Jasmine Tea Have Caffeine?
Jasmine does not naturally contain any caffeine, so the buds used to make jasmine tea will not contain caffeine. However, jasmine tea might contain caffeine depending on the base that was used!
Green tea and black tea both contain caffeine, although green tea contains less caffeine than black tea.
There are decaffeinated options of jasmine leaves for those who want to stay away from caffeine.
What Does Jasmine Tea Taste Like With Sweetener?
Some people enjoy jasmine tea on its own, but if it is too bitter for you, then you can add a sweetener to the tea.
Jasmine tea does have some natural sweetness to it. If you need a bit more, it can be sweetened with either some sugar or honey.
The sweetness can bring out the floral nature of jasmine tea, and will definitely make it easier to drink for those who are not so used to the bitterness of scented teas.
How To Brew Jasmine Tea
How you brew jasmine tea will depend on the type of leaves you have. You could use a teapot with a built-in tea leaf strainer, a cup with a strainer, or you could purchase jasmine tea already in tea bags (more on this below).
When it comes to brewing jasmine tea, it is so important to get the temperature right.
The best way to brew jasmine tea would be to heat your water to a temperature of 185°F and allow the tea leaves to steep for around 35 seconds.
You can obviously adjust the steeping time depending on how weak or strong you want the tea to be, but keeping the water at 185°F is the best way to bring out the floral, delicate flavors of the jasmine, without burning the leaves.
The Best Jasmine Teas
If jasmine tea sounds like the perfect floral tea for you, then take a look through our top picks below. We have included a range of options to ensure that you find the perfect jasmine tea to suit your tastes and needs!
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tealyra Imperial Jasmine Dragon Pearls | Green tea base, jasmine pearls, fresh and aromatic |
| 2 | Numi Organic Tea Jasmine | Loose-leaf, green tea base, natural infusion |
| 3 | Ahmad Tea Jasmine Black Tea | Black tea base, loose-leaf, naturally caffeinated |
| 4 | The Tao Of Tea Jasmine Pearls | Pyramid tea bags, green tea base, jasmine pearls |
| 5 | Decaf Jasmine Tea | Decaf, green tea base, loose-leaf |
1. Tealyra Imperial Jasmine Dragon Pearls
Tealyra Imperial Jasmine Dragon Pearls are a loose-leaf tea that is high-quality and beautifully fresh, ensuring that every cup of jasmine tea you make is as floral and aromatic as can be.
The tea leaves have a great taste and aroma thanks to the tea being made from organic jasmine. A sweetness is brought about by the jasmine pearls, and the base of green tea gives it a fresh and delicate flavor.
You will notice the quality of the Tealyra jasmine tea from the pearls themselves. They are round and tight, uniform in size, and the pearls all have a fresh color and aroma.
If you are looking for a strong and rich jasmine flavor, but with the freshness of green tea, these jasmine pearls are the best option!
2. Numi Organic Tea Jasmine
Numi Jasmine Green Tea is a fragrant, organic green tea made with jasmine flowers that are laid on top of organic green tea leaves, naturally infusing their scent and flavors to give the green tea layers of subtle fragrance.
The loose-leaf tea comes in convenient, resealable pouches so the tea is kept fresh while stored away, ensuring each cup is beautifully aromatic.
This jasmine green tea is bright and fresh. The premium, organic full-leaf tea is blended with 100% natural jasmine and organic green leaves.
3. Ahmad Tea Jasmine Black Tea
The Ahmad Jasmine Black Tea has a delicious and refreshing flavor. It’s made from a fragrant botanical brew of pure jasmine blossoms and a base of black tea.
Only high-quality ingredients are used to make the tea — this gives the tea quality and consistency, so each brew tastes as good as the next.
This is a loose-leaf tea, so you can steep it using a strainer in a pot or in a cup.
The black tea leaf base is naturally caffeinated and sugar-free and gives a rich, strong flavor to the jasmine brew.
4. The Tao Of Tea Jasmine Pearls
If you prefer tea bags to loose-leaf tea, the Tao Of Tea Jasmine Pearls come in a box of 15 pyramid sachets that can be easily brewed at home.
This jasmine tea is fragrant, smooth, and light, highlighting the flavors of green tea with a pleasant jasmine aroma.
These pyramid tea bags are also biodegradable! When steeping, they keep the jasmine pearls contained, but still allow the flavors to seep into the water to create a delicious brew.
5. Decaf Jasmine Tea
Most jasmine teas contain some level of caffeine, whether green or black, but this isn’t suitable for all types of diets and certain health needs.
Luckily, there are also decaf jasmine tea options available!
This Decaf Jasmine Tea is made from natural green tea. It provides a beautiful blend of jasmine aromas, just without caffeine!
The tea comes in a loose-leaf form that can be brewed in a multitude of ways, and you can decide how many leaves to use to get to your preferred strength of jasmine tea. It also comes in a resealable pouch, keeping the tea fresher for longer.
Final Thoughts
Jasmine tea is beautifully aromatic, fresh, and floral — it is a wonderful tea to enjoy in the morning or after a long day. Exactly how the tea tastes will depend on the base it is infused with, whether green tea or black tea.
Jasmine with a base of green tea has a softer, milder, and fresher flavor, which is great to show off the floral notes of the jasmine, whereas a black tea base is stronger and richer, but still floral.
How the jasmine tea is scented will also affect the strength of its flavor and aroma, but this will also be up to your personal preference on whether you want a strongly scented jasmine tea or one with subtle floral notes.
Jasmine tea is definitely worth a try, so take a read through all the information above and our recommendations for the best jasmine teas on the market to find the best tea for you!
Related Questions
Now that we’ve learned all about jasmine tea, here are some additional questions we thought you might have.
What happens if you brew jasmine tea with boiling water?
You should never brew jasmine tea with boiling water — the high temperature will burn the tea leaves and the jasmine, cause the tea to take on an overly bitter flavor, and ruin the delicate floral notes that jasmine tea is known for.
If you made jasmine tea with boiling water, it would be best to just start over with fresh leaves and water heated to a temperature of 185°F.
Can you add milk to jasmine tea?
You can add milk to jasmine tea, or even a creamer if you prefer, to make jasmine milk tea — heck, throw some boba in there and have a great time. However, jasmine tea is wonderfully refreshing when served on its own.
It’s all up to your personal preference!
