Jasmine teas are tea leaves scented with jasmine flower petals.http://www.care2.com/greenliving/jasmine-tea-brewing-pearl-jasmine.html# Varieties of green tea are used to make jasmine tea. Pouchong (a fermented green tea) and black tea are used occasionally. Black tea can overwhelm the jasmine flavor.

Harvesters pick jasmine petals in their optimal state, and cure them with finished teas in a controlled environment.http://www.chineseteastore.net/jasmine-teas.asp After the curing process, the tea is reprocessed then sold.

Jasmine tea is prepared by steeping the leaves in hot water from 170F to 190F for two minutes.http://www.starchefs.com/features/tea/html/types.shtml#top The brewed tea is colorless or pale in color. The beverage can be consumed hot or iced. It can be served alone or with any meal. Jasmine tea is also called Yin Hao, Mo Li Hua Cha, and Dragon Phoenix Pearl.http://www.green-tea-health-news.com/jasmine-tea.html

All tea comes from the tea tree (Camellia sinensis) plant. There are over three thousand varieties divided into seven main categories -- white, green, black, oolong, pu-erh, flavored, and blends.http://www.starchefs.com/features/tea/html/types.shtml#top Jasmine (Jasminum) has over 200 species.http://www.raysahelian.com/jasmine.html Oils from the petals are used in aromatherapy and perfumes.

Flavored tea is a Chinese tradition.http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/camellia_sinensis.html Berries, peach leaves, onions, and orange peel have all been used to flavor tea. Persia introduced jasmine into China in the third century AD.http://www.green-tea-health-news.com/jasmine-tea.html Jasmine tea became popular with the Song Dynasty (960 - 1270 AD).

The jasmine's fragrance is most potent at night. The tea scenting process involves placing the flower petals over the green tea leaves. The higher grades of jasmine tea go through the process seven times. The lower grades of jasmine tea are scented only two to three times.

Sometimes the tea leaves and flower petals are bound together into a tight ball. Called blossoming tea, the green tea balls open to reveal the jasmine petals while steeping in hot water.http://www.chineseteastore.net/blooming-teas.asp

Jasmine tea marries well with curries, chicken, fish, Asian, and vegetarian dishes. It can also be served with "fruit and flower salads, desserts made with flowers, and soft cheeses pressed with flowers."http://www.green-tea-health-news.com/jasmine-tea.html

The Food Network website has recipes from Chef Ming Tsai using jasmine tea.http://www.foodnetwork.com/search/delegate.do?fnSearchString=jasmine+tea&fnSearchType=site The recipes include Jasmine Tea Souffle with Lemongrass Ice Cream, Jasmine Tea Ganache, and Five-Spice Tea Cake.

Epicurious.com also has recipes containing jasmine tea -- Rhubarb Poached in Jasmine Tea with Ginger, Jasmine Tea Sorbet, and Jasmine Whipped Cream.http://www.epicurious.com/tools/searchresults?type=food&search=jasmine%20tea