Jasmine Yin Hao

Jasmine scented tea is a speciality of China. Its sweet, evocative smell is powerfully calming and cleansing.

The quality of Jasmine scented green tea depends upon two things: the quality of the scenting process, and the quality of the base tea used.

Yin Hao is an outstandingly fine grade of China green tea. The leaves are soft and downy, and the liquor subtle, smooth and sweet. It is a Spring tea, plucked in April, when the new leaves flush with brisk, exuberant flavour and delicate colour.

Jasmine comes into flower later in the year, in August. The scenting process is time-consuming and painstaking. The blossoms open at night. Thousands of them are gathered in the cool of the morning, and kept until evening. They are layered in scenting racks between layers of Yin Hao green tea, and gentle warm air is allowed to rise up through the layers to transfer the scent from the flowers to the tea. The process is repeated up to seven times.

Jasmine Yin Hao is a connoisseur's Jasmine green tea. The outstanding quality and fragrance of this marvel of the tea maker's art is ample reward for the meticulous and laborious process that its production demands.

To brew, use one heaped teaspoon or good pinch of tea per person and pour on boiled water that has cooled for 3 minutes. Brew for 2 minutes, then pour into small, delicate cups. It is important to use good quality porcelain or bone china to enjoy the tea at its best. You can liquor the same leaves several times, so they should last most of the afternoon.