subject: The Scented Jasmine and Earl Grey Tea [print this page] Modern tea invention has introduced teas with scent. The discovery of scented teas is an attempt to neutralize the sometimes too bitter taste of tea. It is also added to conceal the bad taste of some low quality teas. Whatever reasons there may be to inspire tea manufacturers to add scent in tea, one thing holds true--scented teas have gained worldwide recognition.
As to why scented teas are loved by many tea enthusiasts, it's mainly because of, well, the scent. Each type of tea has a specific and trademark scent.
Two of the most popular scented teas are Earl Grey tea and Jasmine tea. Earl grey tea is scented with bergamot or citrus fruit. It was created in 1930 for the second Earl Grey by Twinnings of London. It is an exquisite combination of China tea scented with citrus-flavored oil from bergamot. It is a refreshing concoction that can be enjoyed with or without milk and with a slice of lemon. The growing popularity of Earl Grey tea paved the way for other variations such as the green, white, oolong and rooibos blends.
The Jasmine scented tea, on the other hand, gets its fragrance from the petals of Jasmine flowers. The sweet aromatic smell of Jasmine tea make it a great option for people who cannot tolerate other much stronger tea types. The flowers help neutralize the natural bitterness in tea and make it more tolerable for the taste buds. Top-quality Jasmine teas are made by packing jasmine flowers between layers of tea leaves in bamboo chests to scent the tea. These layers are constantly repacked to give the strong aroma of flowers a chance to infuse the leaves. The process of scenting the leaves is made possible by the absorbent characteristic of tea leaves.
The exciting fact about tea is that it never ceases to surprise us with its many benefits. Merely drinking tea does not only promote good health but the scent brings a therapy that is relaxing and stress-relieving.
