Choice Organic Teas Jasmine Green Tea Review
Choice Organic Teas Jasmine Green Tea is described by the company as follows:
"Produced only during August, when the jasmine flowers bloom. Freshly-picked wild blossoms are mixed with organic green tea, and removed after leaving their ethereal, floral scent behind."
Tea makers have been scenting tea with flowers for hundreds of years – the practice dates right back to the Song dynasty in China, from 620-1279, when the mixing of tea with flowers was done very similarly to how it's still carried out today. The tea leaves were laid out with the jasmine flowers (just blossoming) carefully placed on top of them so that the scent is transferred to the leaves.
This particular brand of tea, Choice Organics, believes in separating the blossoms from the tea leaves before the product is packaged and sold. Others prefer to leave them in for purely ornamental purposes, bu the Choice Organics Jasmine Green Tea is produced by carefully monitoring the level of the jasmine aroma in the leaves – they are removed once the correct balance is achieved, and then the tea leaves are fired again to remove any moisture they have absorbed from the blossoms.
This tea, as a result, has quite a mild jasmine fragrance, unlike others on the market which go for a much stronger floral aroma. The scent is not overpowering, but instead is quite subtle. The same goes for the taste. While easily identifiable as a jasmine green tea, there is not a strong floral taste. The jasmine flavor is distinctly there, and it perfectly balances out the vegetal taste characteristic of green tea – there is no grassy flavor or bitterness apparent in this tea. The jasmine tones are subtle and sweet, and it does not leave a strong floral aftertaste. Brewing the tea for slightly longer (around four minutes) will give a beverage with a slightly stronger taste, but overall, this is a pleasantly mild jasmine green tea. It's generally a great choice for those who have previously found jasmine teas to be too strong or potent, too overpoweringly “flowery” - this one gets the balance just right.
Choice Organics produces a number of other scented teas, including varieties that are widely popular in China, such as chrysanthemum, lavender, and rose. There's even a very interesting magnolia oolong tea, which is made in the same way as the Choice Organic Jasmine Green Tea, and is worth trying if you like the Jasmine green.
Green tea is, of course, the tea of choice in terms of health benefits, and the addition of jasmine can only be a good thing. It has some health properties, such as the promotion of calm and relaxation – a proven mood enhancing plant. Claims that jasmine is an aphrodisiac, a cancer fighting agent, and a weight loss solution are as yet unproven, but there's certainly no disadvantage to its inclusion in green tea – even if it's only the pleasant, soothing aroma that helps to improve relaxation and concentration! And the jasmine does help to bring a hint of sweetness to potentially bitter green tea. Choice Organics is a good one to try, mild in flavor and with a gentle, soothing aroma. You can buy it online here.
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