Jasmine Tea Day

The story

Jasmine tea is green or sometimes white tea repeatedly scented with fresh jasmine blossoms until the dry leaf carries a floral perfume into the cup. Brewed, it yields a pale liquor with sweet blossom aroma over a soft green-tea body that finishes clean and lightly sweet. It is welcoming to newcomers and prized by drinkers who want fragrance without the heaviness of milk or spice in the cup.

The scenting craft—layering flowers and tea through multiple nights, then separating them—is a Chinese specialty associated especially with Fujian and related traditions. Quality jasmine tea smells clean and natural, not perfumey or artificial on the nose. It suits afternoon cups, light pastries, and conversation more than heavily sauced banquet courses that would drown the blossom note.

On Jasmine Tea Day, brew a pot and inhale before the first sip. Let the floral note lead, then notice the green finish underneath. Celebrate jasmine tea as China's scented classic—flowers teaching the leaf to bloom in the cup.