Stash Monkey King Jasmine Green Tea
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Stash Monkey King Jasmine Green Tea

One of the most famous teas from the mountains of Hunan Province in China, Monkey King Jasmine is the oldest known scented tea. The jasmine plant was brought to China from Persia before the third century, and these fragrant flowers were first blended with tea sometime around the fifth century.

The rich soil and delicate fluctuations in daily temperature of Hunan Province yield a fragrant green tea leaf. Once the tea leaves are picked and dried, they are carefully stored until mid summer when they are scented with the delicate white jasmine blossoms.

The jasmine flower opens only at night and is plucked in the morning, when the tiny petals are tightly closed. Between six and eight in the evening, as the temperature cools, the petals begin to open. It is reported they emit a "popping" sound when they open, which is the signal for the scenting to begin.

Flowers and tea are combined in machines that control temperature and humidity. It takes four hours or so for the tea to absorb the fragrance and flavor of the jasmine blossoms, and for the highest grades this process may be repeated as many as seven times.

Because the tea has absorbed moisture from the flowers, it must be refired to prevent spoilage. The spent flowers may or may not be removed from the final product - in the lower grades of jasmine they generally are not. As the flowers are completely dry and contain no more aroma (moisture), they add only visual appeal and are no indication of the quality of the tea.

The dried tea is a colorful combination of light to dark greens with many white tips and a few jasmine flowers. The brewed tea has an intoxicating aroma that is fresh and strong, yet the flavor is mellow and relaxing. Monkey King Jasmine makes a wonderful evening tea.