Description

Scenting tea leaves with Jasmine flowers – “Jasmine Tea”

The scenting of tea leaves with Jasmine flowers is an old Chinese tradition. At this, green, white or lightly oxidized Oolong teas typicall serve as basis teas for scenting. In order to achieve a high quality, natural scenting, not only appropriate skills in the processing of the used base tea are a requirement. Much rather, specific knowledge of the aroma donor plant, in this case the Jasmine flower, is also essential. For genuine Jasmine tea, the collection of Jasmine flowers must take place on the same day than the picking of the tea leaves. This is because processing has to take place on the very night of the same day. As this is when the aroma buds of the flowers will open and release their aromatic essences for absorption by the tea leaves.

The jasmine flowers bestow a sweet and floral scent and taste on the tea leaves. Their own taste, however, when physically present in the infusion, is rather bitter. Hence, sorting out the Jasmine flowers after processing is a common feature of most quality Jasmine teas. One of the most noble forms of Jasmine-scented tea is with white ‘Silver Needle’ tea as a basis. Therefore, home of the Jasmine Silver Needle is Fuding County in the Chinese province of Fujian. Because it’s here, where the world’s most famous traditional white teas, ‘White Silver Needle’ und ‘White Peony’ come from.

“Silver Needle” Tea

White Silver Needle (also: Baihao Yinzhen) consists of individual unopened spring buds of Fujian’s “Da Bai” tea plant variety only. Accordingly, it is not just one the most famous, but also one of the rarest teas in China. In addition, it is the most elegant and luxury type of white tea. Like its close relative, Bai Mu Dan (White Peony) (picking standard 1+1 or 1+2), it originally comes from the northeastern part of Fujian. Here, the ‘Da Bai’ variety, providing for both types of white tea, is mainly prevalent in the Fuding und Zhenghe counties. This is, where the white tea processing method was developed during the second half of the 19^th century only. This also makes white tea the youngest of the 6 classical Chinese tea categories.

Fuding Jasmine Silver Needle Tea

In order to achieve the desirable presence of the sweet and floral notes in the tea buds and ensure their persistence across a range of infusions, the scenting process needs to be reapeated at least five times. At this, the Jasmine flowers are changed for each round of scenting. After the scenting, careful sorting out of the jasmine flowers from the tea leaves marks the final processing step.

The lovely sweet scent emerging from the scented tea leaves already anticipates part of this tea’s fragrance and taste. However, the high quality of the basis tea bestowes additional depth and a sheer wealth of subtle notes and flavor facets on the latter. Ever new taste profiles appear across several infusions. At this, the jasmine flower prevails at times and the pure buds white tea at others. Nevertheless, our Fuding White Jasmine Silver Needle always remains sensual, elegant and unobtrusive. This makes it the perfect tea for very special moments or events.

Preparation:

Our recommendation for preparing this luxurious white jasmine tea follows that of the underlying white silver needle basis tea. First, pour 200ml water of a temperature of 80-85°C over 5g Jasmine Silver Needle. Then let infuse for 2-3 minutes. Adding an additional half minute for each subsequent infusion, this precious jasmine tea will produce at least 3-4 full value, delicious infusions.