Intangible Cultural Heritage: The Jasmine Snowball, a Dive into the Sea of Jasmine

Ten thousand blossoms for the bud, a thousand fragrances in one sip.

Jasmine is a cultural calling card of China. “What a beautiful jasmine ,” this well-known folk song is almost universally known across China.

China is abundant with jasmine flowers, but do you know which represents “China's National Tea”?

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In 1983, a national tea competition in Jinhua catapulted the small city of Hengzhou, Guangxi, to become the world's production center for jasmine flowers.

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Hengzhou's jasmine tea has a history of over a hundred years of cultivation.

The jasmine here is large and plump with a rich fragrance, and over 80% of China's jasmine flowers come from this region. Today, we bring you the Jasmine Snowball, an intangible cultural heritage from Hengzhou, Guangxi, passed down through generations. Compared to ordinary jasmine flowers, the Jasmine Snowball is purer with a more intense floral aroma.

As the capital of the world's jasmine flowers, Hengzhou enjoys both geographical and climatic advantages. Hengzhou jasmine has four main characteristics:

Rich fragrance: Good sunlight conditions are conducive to the accumulation of aromatic substances in the jasmine flowers.

Large buds: The buds of double-petal jasmine are generally quite large.

Long-lasting fragrance: The jasmine flowers start releasing their fragrance around 9 PM and continue until about 8 AM the next day.

Long flowering period: The flowering period for Hengzhou jasmine is from April to October, about 2-3 months longer than other jasmine-producing regions.

The Jasmine Snowball is the best of the best among Hengzhou's jasmine flowers!

One pound of snowballs requires nearly ten pounds of fresh flowers! Without stems or calyxes, only the choicest jasmine buds are selected and directly dried.

No added fragrance or preservatives, the floral scent is elegant and refreshing.

A single infusion recreates the blooming of jasmine flowers. After , it floats like a fairy in water, highly ornamental. In terms of taste, compared to ordinary jasmine flowers, the Jasmine Snowball is purer with a stronger floral aroma.

The tea liquor is clear and bright, smooth and natural on the palate, with a sweet and fresh flavor that lingers in the mouth.

Xie Dagao, an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, is the only one in the jasmine industry! He is committed to creating a jasmine tea that represents China.

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From April to October is the peak blooming season for jasmine flowers, during which the entire city is bathed in its fragrance. The optimal time to harvest jasmine is between 2 and 3 PM, when the intense heat of the sun brings the essential oils in the buds to their peak concentration.

The three clusters of flowers in the palm of the hand below illustrate that only the full, plump buds are suitable for tea-making. Flowers that have fully opened or are too small are not used. Only the highest standard of selection is applied, with only about 10% of each batch meeting the criteria.

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Caring for the flowers: The harvested jasmine flowers are gathered into piles to raise the temperature, then constantly turned to maintain the optimal fragrance release temperature of 37 degrees Celsius.

Sieving the flowers: Removing stems, leaves, and other impurities, leaving only the white and large jasmine flowers.

About 70,000 fresh young shoots are needed to produce one pound of Jasmine Embroidery Needles!

However, Xie Dagao's traditional flower processing method largely preserves the natural fragrance of the jasmine flowers.

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Coming from a family with a long tradition of tea-making, he has over 30 years of experience in tea production.

Through years of refining his jasmine flower production techniques, Xie Dagao hopes to share the charm of Hengzhou jasmine tea with more people. In 1992, the Southern Tea Factory was established in Hengzhou, Guangxi, with a 600-acre jasmine flower base and pesticide-free, self-owned flower fields. From planting to harvesting, every step is carried out with a commitment to quality and craftsmanship.

With four generations of experience in growing and cultivating jasmine flowers, they have secured 24 national invention patents and a series of industry accolades.

“Infusing jasmine to create the supreme fragrance, ranking it as the first scent in the world.”

Chinese people have loved jasmine tea since ancient times. Xie Dagao hopes that more tea lovers can experience the traditionally made jasmine tea from the producing region.

Ten thousand jasmine blossoms for the tea bud, a thousand fragrances in one sip.

The greatest charm of jasmine tea lies in the way the tea absorbs the fragrance of the flowers, while the flowers lean on the tea for support. This interplay creates a delicate and elegant aroma reminiscent of ancient grace.

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The jasmine flowers have passed 468 pesticide residue tests and obtained ISO22000 food safety management system certification, ensuring peace of mind when drinking.

Savor a sip of fresh and lively jasmine tea, inhale deeply, and your mouth will be filled with the lush and fragrant aroma of summer.

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Everyone who loves flower teas is familiar with jasmine. According to “Compendium of Materia Medica,” “Jasmine flowers, when steamed, have a light fragrance and a mild taste. Its scent can reach the top of the head and descend to the lower abdomen, dispelling stale air in the chest…” Jasmine flowers are warm in nature, slightly spicy and sweet in taste, and are especially suitable for consumption during summer.

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