How to Make Jasmine Tea

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: April 3, 2021 Tested

Jasmine tea is a popular scented tea that's often served in a Chinese restaurants. It is made with fresh jasmine flowers, which give the tea a strong fragrance and a sweet, smooth flavor. While you can purchase pre-made jasmine tea, you can also make it at home. All you need is some loose leaf green or black tea and a bunch of fresh jasmine flowers -- and some patience. It takes at least a day for the jasmine to scent and flavor the tea.

Ingredients

½ cup (16 g) loose leaf green or black tea
Handful of fresh jasmine flowers

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Combining the Tea and Jasmine

1
Place half of the tea in a jar. To perfume the tea with the scent of jasmine, you’ll need a glass jar with a large opening and a lid. Add ¼ cup (8 g) of loose leaf green or black tea to the bottom of the jar in an even layer.^{[1]
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- Jasmine tea is usually made with green or black tea, but you can substitute white or oolong if you prefer.
2
Cover the tea with jasmine flowers. To effectively perfume the tea, you should use fresh jasmine flowers. Add about a handful of the flowers, or as many as necessary to create a layer that covers the tea leaves.^{[2]
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- You can purchase fresh jasmine flowers at many nurseries and florists. However, you may prefer to grow your own so you have a steady supply.
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3
Add another layer of tea over the flowers. After you’ve placed the jasmine over the tea, sprinkle another ¼ cup (8 g) of the tea leaves over the flowers. Make sure that the tea is in an even layer by tapping the jar gently against a flat surface.^{[3]
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4
Set a weight on top of the tea to compress it and cover the jar. You want the tea and jasmine to be pressed tightly together so the scent of the flower can fully infuse the tea. Place a small can or other heavy item inside the jar on top of the tea, and place the lid on the jar.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Perfuming the Tea

1
Let the tea sit for at least a day. In order for the jasmine to really perfume the tea, you must leave them compacted together for at least 24 hours. The longer that you allow them to sit together, the stronger the jasmine scent will be, so you can leave them for up to 3 weeks if you like.^{[5]
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2
Take the weight out of the jar. After you’ve allowed the tea and jasmine to sit for at least a day, remove the lid from the jar and lift out the weight. You can remove the jasmine flowers from the tea leaves if you like or leave the mixture together.^{[6]
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3
Store the tea in a cool, dark location. If you aren’t planning on making a cup of tea right away, place the lid back on the jar. Place it in a spot where it won’t get too hot or receive direct sunlight, such as a pantry.^{[7]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Brewing the Tea

1
Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Add 8 to 10 ounces (237 to 296 ml) of water to kettle or pot, and place it on the stove. Heat the water on high until it comes to a boil, which should take approximately 2 to 5 minutes.^{[8]
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- It’s best to use filtered water for your tea because tap water can affect the taste of the tea.
- 8 to 10 ounces (237 to 296 ml) of water will make one to two servings of tea, so increase the amount of water if you are making tea for more people.
2
Add some of the jasmine tea to the water. When the water has come to a boil, pour it into a mug or a tea pot. Mix 1 heaping teaspoon (4 to 6 g) of the jasmine tea into the water.^{[9]
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- You add the tea directly to the water and strain the leaves out later, or use a tea infuser, which is a small, thin, reusable bag that allows the leaves to steep into the water while keeping them separate.
- If you’re using a teapot, it likely has a compartment to place the leaves, so it’s easier to remove them later.
3
Allow the tea to steep for at least 5 minutes. Once the tea leaves are in the water, it takes some time for them to impart their flavor. Let the leaves sit in the water for 5 to 7 minutes to ensure that your tea is as flavorful as possible.^{[10]
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4
Strain the tea and serve while it’s still hot. When the tea has steeped for several minutes, pour the liquid through a strainer into a tea cup to remove the leaves. Drink the tea while it’s warm.^{[11]
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- You can leave the tea leaves in your tea if you don’t mind them as you drink.

Community Q&A

Question

If I do a green tea, isn't five to seven minutes a little much?

Community Answer

It depends on how strong you like your tea, but usually you would only steep green tea for a couple minutes.