Jasmine Tea Benefits: Science Backed Reasons To Make This Your Favorite Drink

Tea is a beverage that is enjoyed extensively by many people around the world. It is part and parcel of many cultures and the everyday lives of millions across the world. Originating from China with roots that can be traced as far back as 2700 BCE. This drink has certainly made its mark all over the globe. Historically, tea was made by simply boiling fresh leaves in water and then consuming it. However, with many different cultures enjoying the drink, it has undergone many changes and experiments. Both speciality and flavored teas were invented and sold to the masses. Jasmine tea is one such beverage, and it is a specialty drink that resulted from such experimentation. Apart from having a lovely fragrance that sets it apart from traditional teas, the benefits of jasmine tea play a huge part in its popularity. Here is everything you need to know about the benefits and side effects of jasmine tea, how it’s made, how often you can consume it, and much more.

What Is Jasmine Tea?

Jasmine tea is a kind of flavored tea, scented with jasmine flowers that add an elegant floral taste to the beverage.

According to WebMD, jasmine tea was enjoyed during the Tang Dynasty in China, although historians believe it was perhaps enjoyed far earlier than that. Despite being enjoyed for centuries, it gained popularity during the Ming Dynasty. People at the time had a fascination with all things floral. 

The beverage is generally made using a green tea base and jasmine blossoms are then added to bring out the delicate taste and fragrance. The jasmine flowers are typically dried and blended with green tea leaves or simply placed alongside tea leaves in storage. This allow the flavors to infuse over time. 

In addition to a green tea base, there are also other jasmine teas that have black, white, or oolong teas as their base. Blossoms from the common jasmine as well as Arabina jasmine species are what are used in the making of this drink.

What Are 5 Benefits Of Jasmine?

Jasmine tea benefits do not necessarily come from the flowers themselves, but rather from the green tea base. Some of the most widely known benefits of this beverage include:

• Rich in antioxidants
• May help with weight loss
• May reduce the risk of chronic illnesses
• Contributes to better oral health
• May contribute to improved mental health and function
• May support hair growth

Read More: Green Tea Facts, Health Benefits And Side Effects

Rich in Antioxidants

All teas from the Camellia sinensis plant are rich in antioxidants known as polyphenols. These polyphenols – also known as catechins – are the most active compound in tea and include flavonoids, flavanols, and phenolic acids.

According to several studies, tea polyphenols are excellent antioxidants with the ability to fight against the risk of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. They also possess anti-inflammatory properties and may help with lipid metabolism regulation.

If you drink jasmine tea for its antioxidant properties, it may be best to choose one that has a green tea base rather than a black tea base, as the former has more antioxidants  than the latter, although both are excellent choices with an abundance of antioxidants (3, 25).

May Help With Weight Loss

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight has many benefits, such as improved heart health, better blood sugar regulation, lower risk of certain chronic diseases,  improved joint health leading to improved mobility, and higher self esteem.

In addition to exercising and eating a healthy calorie-deficit diet, increasing your metabolic rate also plays a role in how quickly you lose weight. People who have a higher metabolic rate have a tendency to burn more calories than those with a lower metabolic rate, even when they are at rest.

One review that was published in the International Journal of Obesity discussed how the consumption of caffeine, capsaicin, and different teas such as green, white, and oolong tea, may be a way to increase metabolic rate.

The review suggested that consuming these compounds may increase metabolic rate by 4 to 5 percent and the body’s fat burning rate by 10 to 16 percent (31).

However, it is far from guaranteed that everyone will experience these effects or that drinking tea will automatically result in weight loss.

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May Reduce the Risk of Chronic Illnesses

Tea may not appear to be the obvious go-to for a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, but research has suggested that it could be. Here’s how drinking jasmine tea could contribute toward a lower risk of chronic illnesses:

1. Increased metabolic rate and weight loss

As mentioned above, tea may increase your metabolic rate, which could ultimately lead to weight loss.

According to the CDC, being overweight or obese increases the risk of chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers (1). In addition to these diseases, excess weight makes you more vulnerable to other diseases, including osteoarthritis, liver and kidney disease, sleep apnea, and depression (29).

2. Better artery health

Atherosclerosis is a condition where plaque builds up inside the arteries, thickening and hardening them. A study on both green and black tea suggested that these teas can help reduce plaque formation in hamster arteries.

Furthermore, these teas have positive results in terms of the reduction of LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides (10). Improved artery health results in a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke.

 3. Improved heart health 

A literature review and meta-analysis found the daily consumption of green tea or tea, in general, to be associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and strokes (14, 23).

4. Lower risk of type 2 diabetes

Research on green tea consumption has shown that this beverage may significantly reduce fasting blood sugar and insulin levels, and tea intake, in general, has been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes (6, 24).

5. Reduces the risk of certain types of cancer

Preliminary research on green tea has shown that it has properties that may help lower the risk of breast and prostate cancers (13, 12).

All these factors demonstrate that jasmine-infused green tea may potentially keep you safe from numerous common chronic illnesses.

Better Oral Health

If you are worried about tooth decay, you should definitely add jasmine green tea to your diet. Studies on green tea catechins in mouthwashes have found that they work well in reducing dental plaque and locking acid production by plaque-forming bacteria – two factors that can improve the health of your teeth (16, 4).

May Improve Mental Health and Function

Jasmine green tea has the sweet and delicate aroma of jasmine flowers, which can help relax and calm emotions. In addition to calming the nervous system, the aroma can invoke positive emotions that may help with symptoms of depression.

A study on the aromatherapy of jasmine oil found that inhaling the scent of this oil causes more positive emotions and mood. Participants ended up feeling more active, energized, fresh, and even romantic (27).

Caffeine, which is also found in jasmine tea, has been linked to increased alertness and improved concentration. In relation to cognitive illnesses, long-term caffeine consumption has been associated with the prevention of cognitive decline, and reduced risk of strokes, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s (7).

Read More: Essential Oil For Headache: Relieving Your Pain

May Support Hair Growth

Green tea contains the plant compound Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that is linked to several benefits including reduced inflammation, weight loss, and a lower risk of chronic disease.

Studies have suggested that it may help with hair growth in patients who suffer from alopecia (2, 15).

Does Jasmine Tea Make You Sleepy Or Awake?

No, it does not.

As jasmine has a calming effect on the central nervous system, you may think that jasmine tea is beneficial for sleep. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

While the scent of the flowers can calm you, the beverage contains a small amount of caffeine, which helps with awakeness and alertness.

Does Jasmine Tea Detox The Body?

Yes, but perhaps not how you think.

The first thing you must understand is that your body naturally detoxifies itself. You don’t need to spend a small fortune on popular detox teas and juices that are said to remove toxins from your body or gut.

We already have an inbuilt system that does this quite effectively. The main detoxification organs of the body are the liver and kidneys. The lymphatic system, digestive tract (fecal matter), skin (sweat), and lungs (breathing) also play crucial roles in toxin removal.

Basically, if you are healthy and these organs are working as they should, you do not require any supplements to help further detoxify your body.

However, you can always try and help your body and its organs be as healthy as possible to enable them to work as they should. 

This is where jasmine tea – specifically that with a green tea base – as a detoxifier comes in.

Green tea is full of natural polyphenols, which are great for the liver. Research has suggested that a diet rich in polyphenols supports liver health and may also protect against and help with the treatment of liver disease (30, 17).

Green tea is also rich in antioxidants. As previously mentioned, antioxidants help get rid of free radicals. If they are left unchecked, free radicals contribute to an increased risk of many chronic illnesses (9).

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Is It Good To Drink Jasmine Tea every day?

Yes, it can be.

As previously mentioned, jasmine tea is essentially flavored green, black, white, or oolong tea. The majority of healthy people can have as many as 3 to 4 cups each day without any problems.

However, try not to exceed 4 cups (3 cups is even safer). Too much jasmine tea caffeine content may affect your sleep schedule or increase nervousness.

What Are The Side Effects of Jasmine Tea?

There are also some side effects of jasmine tea. You should be aware of the caffeine content if you are sensitive. Although they are rare, allergic reactions are also possible. 

FAQs

Jasmine Tea vs Green Tea: What Is The Difference?

The main difference between these two beverages is that jasmine tea is simply a type of green tea. As previously stated, jasmine tea is generally green tea. It is flavored or brewed together with dried jasmine flowers.

Can You Drink Tea While Fasting?

Yes, you can.

Tea is one of the few things that you can consume during intermittent fasting. As long as your tea – flavored or otherwise – contains no added sugar, milk, or cream, you can drink it without breaking the fast. 

Unsweetened coffee (without milk or creamer) and water are other beverages that can safely be consumed during the fasting window. If you can stand the smell and taste, diluted apple cider vinegar (1 to 2 tbsp in water) is another fast-friendly drink.

What Is Keto Green Tea?

Keto green tea is basically a tea version of the viral bulletproof coffee. It is a high-fat drink that many keto diets suggest as a breakfast replacement.

While unsweetened green tea is keto friendly – it has zero carbs – it does not provide any nutrition on keto, as it also contains zero grams of fat (22).

To make the drink keto, some people add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or MCT oil to a cup. A lemon and a zero-calorie sweetener can also improve the taste of the tea, but this is optional.

Kombucha For Gut Health: Good or Bad?

Kombucha is a fermented probiotic-rich drink that is said to be excellent for gut health (19).

Research has suggested that probiotic supplementation supplies the gut with beneficial bacteria that may have a variety of health benefits (8, 26, 28, 18).

Is Jasmine Tea Good For an Empty Stomach?

Yes, you can drink this flavored tea on an empty stomach.

While some people may find that this upsets the stomach or causes heartburn, others will experience no discomfort. 

If you are one of those who tend to feel nauseous or otherwise uncomfortable after drinking tea on an empty stomach, you should drink it with a meal or snack. There is no particular benefit to drinking tea on an empty stomach that you will be missing out on. 

Is Jasmine Tea Better Than Green Tea?

Not really, as jasmine tea is simply green tea that is flavored with jasmine.

Can We Drink Green Tea every day?

Yes, we can.

Most healthy people can have up to four cups of green tea a day without any side effects. However, you should try not to surpass this as too much caffeine may cause undesired side effects. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should talk to your doctor about green tea consumption.

Are There Any Jasmine Tea Benefits For Skin?

Perhaps with topical application, as topical applications of green tea extracts have been suggested to help: 

1. Manage acne and excess sebum production (11).
2. Reduce the risk of skin cancer (20).
3. Reduce puffiness in the eye area – once the bags have been used to make the tea, squeeze the excess water from them and place them on your puffy eyes. Relax and drink your tea.
4. Reduce signs of aging (5).

The Bottom Line

Jasmine tea benefits prove that this beverage should be enjoyed by every tea and health enthusiast. While there may not be many benefits to the jasmine flowers, the benefits of the black or green tea base make it one of the best teas to consume in your pursuit of better health.