Jasmine Tea

One of the things that I have discovered I really like here in China is jasmine tea. This tea is made from green tea which is infused with the scent of jasmine flowers. The jasmine flowers are harvested during the day and are layered with tea leaves and stored in a cool place until night time when the jasmine flowers open. This process is repeated until there is the desired scent to the tea. Most of this tea is sold as loose leaves, but some of it is made into special tea balls, or "pearls" which open up when you brew them to display a flower. These are hand sewn, and each looks different from the last. I bought a special tea pot for brewing this tea that is clear glass so I can enjoy the flower display.

Here is a picture of the tea ball next to the cute little boxes they are sold in.

And here is the ball in the water, just starting to open.

It sinks to the bottom as it opens...

And eventually "blooms"...

I have found that I like this tea pretty weak, so after the tea ball blooms I only brew it for about another minute or so, and then enjoy!

I love the smell of jasmine flowers, and this tea is so fragrant I enjoy just leaving the pot to brew after I have had my tea. The smell last for a long time, but the tea gets too bitter for me to drink. You can brew the same blossom over again though, so if I feel like more tea later the same day I just empty the pot and fill again with fresh water.

As you might imagine, buying tea in China is an experience. You are welcomed into the tea shop, and encouraged to sit down as the owner brews pot after pot of tea for you to sample. Part of this is obviously a sales pitch, but in some of the shops they are more interested in making sure you get the "right" tea than in pushing a fast sale. It has been fun learning a bit about different teas, and developing a taste for some of the more exotic flavors.