Jasmine Tea

The Art of Traditional Jasmine Scenting: 7 Layers of Fragrance

The old tea master spreads tea and jasmine flowers on a bamboo tray

Takeaway

✓ 7-layer scenting over 30+ days

✓ 100% natural – no oils or additives

✓ Night harvesting at peak fragrance

✓ 1kg of tea absorbs 10kg of fresh flowers

A 400-Year-Old Dance Between Tea and Flower

Origins in Imperial Tea Tributes

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) first recorded "窨制" (yìn zhì) – the art of layering tea with fresh flowers. Emperors demanded jasmine tea to "perfume a room for three days." To achieve this, Hengxian masters developed the 7-layer method, now recognized as China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Why Seven Layers?

Through trial and error, ancestors found:

3 layers: Basic fragrance (common in cheap teas)
5 layers: Balanced aroma (supermarket "premium" grade)
7 layers: Deep, lasting scent (Orientaleaf standard)

"Seven is the magic number," says fifth-generation master Zhou Wei. "It allows the tea to 'breathe' between each scenting."

7-Step Ritual (Day-by-Day Breakdown)

Day 1-3: First Scenting

Flower Selection: Only buds blooming that night are picked.
Layering: 1kg tea : 3kg flowers spread on bamboo trays.
Resting: 12 hours in 30-32°C rooms.

Strict temperature control ensures optimal scent absorption

Read more>>>What makes jasmine tea so beneficial for your health? Learn 7 science-backed ways it boosts sleep and skin health!

Day 4-6: Turning and Cooling

At 2 AM, masters like Liu Feng perform "翻花" (fān huā): Gently flip the mixture with bare hands
Check flower freshness by smell
Remove any wilted blossoms

"Your palms must read the temperature," Liu explains. "Too hot – the oils evaporate. Too cold – the scent won’t stick."

Master Liu's 40 years of experience in 'turning flowers'

Day 7-30: Repeat and Refine

● The process repeats 6 more times with fresh flowers each round. By layer 7:Tea absorbs 10kg of flowers

● Natural sugars caramelize, creating honey-like sweetness

Human Touch vs Machine Efficiency

Factory Scenting: The 2-Hour "Cheat"

Modern mass production uses:

Steam injection: Blast tea with jasmine essence
Heat presses: Force fragrance into low-grade leaves
Artificial fixatives: Like amyl acetate (also used in nail polish)

Result? Tea that smells strong initially but tastes flat.

Why Hands Matter

During our visit to Hengxian, Master Chen demonstrated:

Finger sensitivity: Detects moisture changes machines miss
Timing instinct: "Flowers whisper when they're ready"
Waste reduction: Reuses spent flowers for candles/oils

Hand-scented tea retains 2x more benzyl acetate

Feature	Handmade	Machine-made
Quality Control	Skilled tea masters carefully select each batch to ensure consistency in aroma and taste.	Machine production lacks fine control, and the combination of tea leaves and flowers may not be as delicate.
Craftsmanship Flexibility	Tea masters adjust techniques based on climate and flower maturity, making each batch unique.	The production process is fixed, lacking flexibility.
Aroma	Tea leaves have longer contact with flowers, resulting in a rich and lasting aroma.	High temperatures accelerate the blending of fragrance, but the aroma is intense but short-lived.
Production Efficiency	Slower production, suitable for small-batch high-quality production.	Faster production, suitable for large-scale market demand.
Temperature Control	Temperature is carefully controlled to avoid rapid evaporation of fragrance compounds.	High temperatures cause fragrance compounds to evaporate too quickly, leading to a short-lived aroma.

Quality Control: Our 3 Iron Rules

Rule 1: Zero Additives

Every batch is tested for:Pesticides: 0/381 EU MRLs detected
Artificial flavors: None (GC-MS certified)
Preservatives: None needed – natural oils act as stabilizers

Rule 2: Single-Origin Guarantee

All our teas are sourced exclusively from Hengxian, the largest jasmine flower production area in the world, ensuring the finest quality and authentic flavor.

Rule 3: 14-Day Money-Back Promise

Not satisfied? We’ll refund – no questions asked.

We serve thousands of satisfied tea enthusiasts in our tea house each year, and we’re excited to share these exceptional teas with tea lovers worldwide at Orientaleaf.com.

Shop>>>Authentic Jasmine Tea Sourced from Hengxian