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Though most teas are made from only the leaves of herbs, Jasmine Green Tea health benefits is different. It is made by adding the jasmine flower to the tea. Cultivated widely for its beautiful flowers, jasmine is any of more than 200 species with fragrant white, yellow or red flowers.

The jasmine plant was brought to China from Persia sometime in the third century AD but never became popular there until about 1000 years ago. Yin Hao is considered the finest jasmine tea. Other popular versions are Xiang Pian, Dragon Phoenix Pearl, and Mo Li Hua Cha, the latter being possibly the most popular scented tea worldwide.

Jasmine green tea is made by starting with a Chinese green tea for a base. Some will use pouchong/oolong or black tea but green is more common. The tea leaves are plucked and processed in April and May and then kept dry until the jasmine flowers bloom in August and September.

The jasmine flowers are gathered when they are fully open. This means harvesting them at midnight or early in the morning. The flowers are then placed with the tea so that the scent of the flower can be absorbed. After four hours, the flowers are removed. During a month, this process is repeated before the tea is ready for sale. Low grade tea has been scented two or three times during this month. High grade tea has been scented seven times.

Most green teas with jasmine contain a significant amount of polyphenols, plant-based substances that have proven to have anticancer, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. This helps prevent certain cancers and slows aging by eliminating free radicals. Jasmine is good for diabetes prevention and reducing high blood pressure. It is believed to prevent strokes, heart attacks, thrombosis, and arterial sclerosis.

A partial list of Jasmine Green Tea would include the ability to reduce blood sugar, reduce the risk of blood clot, keep fluid balance, prevent allergy and flu, and boost the immune system. It provides oral care and fluoride that helps protect the teeth from decay. Jasmine tea improves intestinal conditions by blocking the development and growth of bad bacteria and by strengthening good bacteria.

Jasmine tea also fights food poisoning, including dysentery, cholera, and piccoli that causes gastric ulcers. Gargling with jasmine green tea is one of the best ways to protect oneself from influenza since the tea contains anti-viral substances.

Today, jasmine is known in alternative health care as an effective anti-depressant, including post-natal depression, and menopause problems. Along with raspberry leaf tea, it has been used to help childbirth and milk production. It can help relieve muscle and joint pain, including chronic back pain and is considered a romantic enhancer.

Try using jasmine green tea to lose weight. In one three month study, people who consumed tea with jasmine green tea extract lost more fat than those who consumed regular oolong tea. Perhaps the catechins in the jasmine trigger weight loss by decreasing body fat and by stimulating the body to burn calories.

To prepare a cup of tea, simply steep about one half teaspoon of tea in water from 170?F to 190?F for two minutes. You can repeat the steeping up to two times. You should consume at least four cups a day. This tea is served with strongly flavored foods or served alone. It is good with curries, chicken and fish, and vegetarian dishes. A good quality jasmine green tea will work beautifully with fruit and flower salads, or desserts made with flowers, or soft cheeses with pressed flowers.

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