Hunan Jasmine Tea

A prestigious tea from a prestigious place, Hunan Jasmine is a fine quality Jasmine leaf tea that comes from the Hunan Province. Located in the southeast of China, the Hunan Province borders itself with other tea-producing provinces, including Guangxi to the southwest, Jiangxi to the east and Hubei to the north. The word ‘Hunan’ means south of the lake, owing to the fact that the renowned Dongting lake can be found just south of the border. Its subtropical climate makes it perfect for tea-producing, with the likes of Jasmine teas and other such blends thriving in these sublime conditions.

Like other Jasmine teas, Hunan Jasmine is produced using an intricate and precise processing method which requires years of experience and weeks of careful labour. In the summer months across China’s tea-producing provinces, jasmine buds are hand-picked in the early afternoons, when the sun is out and the drew has evaporated. These well-seasoned pickers are sure to only select the very finest buds which are set to bloom that same evening.

As the sun sets and the vast plantations succumb to the dimming light, all the thousands of buds picked earlier in the day have been long since stored in a dry place, awaiting the next stage of the process. It is here in the cool night air that the blossoms open, releasing their wonderfully intoxicating aroma. The flowers are then placed into basket trays and layered over tea leaves during what is known as the scenting process. After hours of storage, the tea begins to absorb the fragrance and distinctive flavour of the fragile jasmine blossoms, and so the blend is born.

Type of Tea: Green Loose Leaf

Origin: Hunan Province in China

Leaf Grade: Large Loose Leaf, SFTGFOP

Brewing Guide: Brew with fresh boiled water, cool to a temperature of 75 to 80 degrees and infuse for 1 to 3 minutes.

How to Serve: Serve in open bowls without milk. Ideal accompaniment to a Chinese Meal.

Tasting Notes: A delicately floral smell wafts from your cup as you sip Hunan Jasmine’s sweet, butter-like flavour. Its taste is not too overpowering but enough to leave a delightful aftertaste.

Colour in Cup: Rich golden colour, light in tone.

Health Benefits of Jasmine Tea: Practiced for centuries, Jasmine Tea’s poetic processing method can now offer more than just its taste. Science has proven to be a trusty ally of Jasmine tea as ongoing studies uncover its true potential. The frequent consumption of  Hunan Jasmine Tea and other such blends is now largely associated with a wealth of health benefits which can provide relief to ailments including digestive and immune systems issues, poor cholesterol health and even diabetes. Further to this, Hunan Jasmine can also offer a reduced risk of heart attacks, and help ease chronic inflammation like muscle aches and pains.

Perhaps most notably however, this green tea can be an excellent stress reducer. The olfactory system is often overlooked when we explore the capabilities of tea consumption, but studies have indicated that the odour of jasmine can be very beneficial to subjects with a natural predilection for its scent. For those particular subjects, the smell of jasmine created a parasympathetic response and their bodies released chemicals that allowed them to naturally relax or improve their mood. So, next time you have had yourself a bad day, brew up a cup of Hunan Jasmine, sit back and simply enjoy as all that tension is released!