….and definitely one
of my favourite teas that I drink every day.
Jasmine is a flowering plant that grows in many
tropical countries and when infused with green tea leaves becomes a delicious
and refreshing beverage that is also extremely good for you.
Jasmine tea has been produced in China for
nearly 700 years and is one of the most popular Chinese scented teas. Jasmine
tea first appears in records during the Song Dynasty which ended in the 13th Century AD, but at that time it
was reserved exclusively for royalty. Not so today, as it has become a common
export to the Western World.
Jasmine Pearl tea, is just one form of the tea,
and is usually made up of two tea buds and one tea leaf rolled into the characteristic
pearl ball shape.
One reason it is so popular is that it has many
health benefits ranging from reducing stress to preventing cancer. It is
particularly healthy because it is high in a powerful group of antioxidants
known as catechins which are found in the organic tea buds themselves.
Throughout history, the soothing effect of green
tea combined with jasmine has been used for stress relief and as an
anti-depressant as it helps to relieve anxiety and tension. It can also
alleviate the symptoms of headaches and muscle aches, and the scent of jasmine
can lower heart rates and provide a calming effect on the senses.
Jasmine tea is high in antioxidants which means
that it can lower the chances of developing cancer. This is because the
antioxidants attack the harmful free radicals formed in the body that have been
shown to have a relationship with the development of cancer. Antioxidants also
slow down the ageing process.
Drinking jasmine tea regularly can result in a
reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. This is because it has been shown to
reduce the accumulation of cholesterol and unhealthy fats in the body and
prevent the formation of bad cholesterol. Additionally it is beneficial in
improving blood circulation, which helps to prevent high blood pressure,
blocked arteries, thrombosis and strokes.
Catechins contained in the tea have fat burning
properties and boost the metabolism which can help with weight loss.
Jasmine tea has some antiviral and antibacterial
properties that help to prevent colds and flu. As well as fighting bacteria, it
is helpful to the formation of good bacteria that aid digestion and improve the
health of the intestines thus helping to prevent diarrhoea, gastric problems
and ulcers and studies have shown that green tea can also alleviate the
symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease as well as Crohn’s disease.
For me, I just love drinking jasmine pearl tea.
With its delicate but exotic, heady, aromatic fragrance, it soothes my spirits
as soon as I smell it being brewed.
So, try brewing a pot of jasmine pearl tea next
time you're feeling a bit off colour, or even if you’re not! Drinking this wonderful tea can help to speed up your
recovery and, if you really must, gargle with it, as some people even believe
that it can prevent illness!