Jasmine (Jasminum) is a genus of shrubs and vines with about 200 species, native to tropical and warm temperate regions of the Old World. The majority of species grow as climbers on other plants or on structures. Jasmine flowers are white in most species, but with some species being yellow flowered.

Jasmine is frequently used in aromatherapy. Jasmine aroma appears to have sedating and relaxing properties. Jasmine is a common fragrance used in perfumes.

Jasmine Tea
Jasmine tea is sometimes made from green or pouchong (Chinese green) tea leaves that are scented with jasmine flowers. The jasmine flowers are harvested during the day and stored in a cool place until night. During the night, the flowers bloom with full fragrance. The flowers are layered over the tea leaves during the scenting process. The quality of jasmine tea is determined by the quality of green tea used as its base and the effectiveness of the scenting.
     There are many herbal teas available, and jasmine tea is a good option. However, it is a good idea to alternate different herbal teas in order to get a number of beneficial substances from different teas. It has been proposed that jasmine tea has anticancer benefits. This may be true, but many herbs have anticancer benefits and there is no reason to suspect jasmine tea is any more beneficial than other herbal teas.

Jasmine Research Update
Chemopreventive efficacy and anti-lipid peroxidative potential of Jasminum grandiflorum Linn. - jasmine - on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced rat mammary carcinogenesis.
Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2005 Dec;19(6):687-93.
The aim of this study was to investigate the chemopreventive efficacy and anti-lipid peroxidative potential of jasmine on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary carcinogenesis. The results of this study clearly indicate that jasmine has potent chemopreventive efficacy in experimental mammary carcinogenesis and further studies are warranted to isolate and characterize the bioactive principle from jasmine

Effectiveness of aroma on work efficiency: lavender aroma during recesses prevents deterioration of work performance.
Chem Senses. 2005 Oct;30(8):683-91.
The present study investigated whether exposure to aromas during recess periods affects work performance. Subjects comprised 36 healthy male students (mean age, 24 years) who were randomly divided into three groups: (1) control group, not exposed to aroma during recesses; (2) jasmine group, exposed to jasmine aroma during recesses; and (3) lavender group, exposed to lavender aroma during recesses. All participants completed five work sessions performing a task requiring concentration on a computer monitor, with each session lasting 60 min. Recess periods of 30 min were provided between each session. To clarify the time at which work concentration was lowest, work performance for the control group was analyzed. Concentration was lowest in the afternoon period, where afternoon drowsiness is strongest. Comparison of the three groups for this time period indicated significantly higher concentration levels for the lavender group than for the control group. No such effect was noted for the jasmine group. Although lavender is a sedative-type aroma, use during recess periods after accumulation of fatigue seems to prevent deterioration of performance in subsequent work sessions.

Sedative effects of the jasmine tea odor and (R)-(-)-linalool, one of its major odor components, on autonomic nerve activity and mood states.
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2005 Oct;95(2-3):107-14.
Laboratory of Nutrition Chemistry, Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Kyoto, Japan
We investigated the effects of the odor of jasmine tea on autonomic nerve activity and mood states in a total of 24 healthy volunteers. We used the odor of jasmine tea at the lowest concentration that could be detected by each subject but that did not elicit any psychological effects. R-R intervals and the POMS test were measured before and after inhalation of the odors for 5 min. Both jasmine tea and lavender odors at perceived similar intensity caused significant decreases in heart rate and significant increases in spectral integrated values at high-frequency component in comparison with the control. In the POMS tests, these odors produced calm and vigorous mood states. We also examined the effects of (R)-(-)-linalool, one of its major odor components, at the same concentration as in the tea, and (S)-(+)-linalool. Only (R)-(-)-linalool elicited a significant decrease in heart rate and an increase in high-frequency component in comparison with the controls, and produced calm and vigorous mood states. Thus, the low intensity of jasmine tea odor has sedative effects on both autonomic nerve activity and mood states, and (R)-(-)-linalool, one of its components, can mimic these effects.

Jasmine Tea Questions
Q. Is it okay to drink jasmine tea daily?
   A. Jasmine tea does have good antioxidants, but I prefer to alternate different tea. Drinking jasmine tea 2 or 3 times a week would be fine, and the rest of the time you can alternate drinking a number of other herbal teas available in health food stores.

Q. I'm a freelance writer. I've been asked to write a short piece on Jasmine Tea as a potential mood lifter for a magazine. I've written for such magazines as Alternative Medicine, Better Nutrition, Urban Male etc. I've just started my research and discovered recent studies suggest jasmine tea produces calm and vigorous mood states. Would you be so kind to offer a quote for my article? If so, please provide a written response to the following questions?
1. How often do you recommend drinking jasmine tea? Every day, 1-3 times a week, once a week when, how much?
2. Do you find jasmine tea effective in calming mood? Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.
   A. I prefer individuals vary the teas they drink in order to obtain beneficial substances from a number of herbal teas as opposed to ingesting the same substances every day. As such, drinking jasmine tea once or twice a week would be quite acceptable. Jasmine tea has a mild calming effect, but - based on the jasmine tea brands I have tried - it is not as potent as some other teas such as passionflower.