Jasmine Tea Guide: Pearls, Bi Luo Chun and Silver Needle

In short: jasmine tea is a tea, usually green, that is scented with fresh jasmine blossoms. The three classic styles are hand-rolled Jasmine Dragon Pearls, curly Jasmine Bi Luo Chun and Jasmine Silver Needle, a white tea. Brew all three with water at 75 to 80°C (165 to 175°F), about 3 g per 250 ml, for 2 to 3 minutes, and you can steep the same leaves two or three times.

When the days get short and grey in Canada, a cup of jasmine tea brings a little spring back into the kitchen. The aroma fills the room before you even take a sip. But "jasmine tea" covers many different teas, and the base leaf changes the whole cup. Here is how to tell the main styles apart and brew each one well.

What is jasmine tea?

Jasmine tea is not an herbal tea made only of flowers. It is real tea, most often green tea from Fujian province in China, that has been scented with night-blooming jasmine. Tea makers spread fresh blossoms over the dry leaves in the evening, when the flowers open and release their perfume. By morning the leaves have soaked up the aroma, the spent flowers are removed and the process is repeated with fresh ones.

The best jasmine teas are scented five to ten times. That is why a fine jasmine tea smells of fresh flowers, not perfume, and why it tastes sweet and smooth rather than soapy.

Three jasmine teas worth knowing

Jasmine Dragon Pearls

Young leaves and buds are rolled by hand into small pearls after scenting. In hot water they slowly unfurl, which is lovely to watch in a glass cup. Our Jasmine Dragon Pearls give a deep, honeyed cup with a long floral finish. We have a full brewing guide for them in our post on Jasmine Dragon Pearls.

Jasmine Bi Luo Chun

Bi Luo Chun is a famous green tea from the Dong Ting mountains near Lake Tai. Its leaves are picked very young and twisted into tiny spirals covered with white down. Scented with jasmine, Jasmine Dong Ting Bi Luo Chun is lighter and brighter than the pearls, with a fresh, almost fruity note. Use slightly cooler water, as these small leaves open quickly.

Jasmine Silver Needle

Here the base is white tea: only the downy buds of the tea plant. Jasmine Yin Zhen Silver Needle is the gentlest of the three, silky and sweet, with jasmine as a soft background note. It is a great pick if you find other jasmine teas too strong.

How to brew jasmine tea

1. Heat the water to 75-80°C. Boiling water scorches green and white leaves and turns jasmine tea bitter. If you have no thermometer, boil the kettle and let it stand for 3 to 4 minutes with the lid open.
2. Measure the leaf. Use about 3 g per 250 ml cup: roughly 1 heaped teaspoon of pearls or 2 teaspoons of the fluffier Bi Luo Chun and Silver Needle.
3. Steep 2 to 3 minutes. Taste at 2 minutes. Pearls may need a full 3 minutes on the first steep to open.
4. Re-steep. Add 30 seconds for each new infusion. Good jasmine tea gives two or three lovely cups from the same leaves.

A glass mug or glass teapot is ideal: you can watch the leaves open and see when the colour turns pale gold. A tea infuser basket works fine too, as long as it leaves the leaves room to expand.

Ways to enjoy jasmine tea in Canada

• Weekend gongfu session: brew pearls in a small pot or gaiwan with short 30-second steeps for many small, fragrant cups.
• Cold brew in the fridge: 8 g of jasmine green tea in 1 litre of cold water for 6 to 8 hours makes a smooth, sweet iced tea for summer at the cottage.
• With dim sum: jasmine tea is the classic tea at Chinese restaurants from Vancouver to Toronto, and it is just as good at home with dumplings.
• After dinner: a light cup of Jasmine Silver Needle is a calm way to end a winter evening. White tea still has some caffeine, so keep the cup small if you are sensitive.

Looking for more choice? Browse our full jasmine tea collection or other Chinese teas in our green tea collection.

How to store jasmine tea

Jasmine aroma fades with air, light and warmth. Keep the tea in an airtight, opaque tin or pouch in a cool cupboard, away from coffee and spices, which can share their smell. Enjoy it within 6 to 12 months for the freshest scent.

Frequently asked questions

Does jasmine tea have caffeine?

Yes. Jasmine tea made on green or white tea contains caffeine, usually less than a cup of black tea or coffee. The exact amount depends on the leaf and how long you steep it.

Which jasmine tea is best for beginners?

Jasmine Dragon Pearls are a great start: they are easy to measure, forgiving to brew and full of flavour. If you prefer something lighter, try Jasmine Silver Needle.

Why does my jasmine tea taste bitter?

The water was probably too hot or the tea steeped too long. Use water at 75 to 80°C and taste after 2 minutes.

Can I add milk or sugar to jasmine tea?

It is usually enjoyed plain to keep the floral aroma, but a little honey is a nice touch. Milk tends to hide the jasmine.