How to Choose Between Green tea vs Jasmine tea

Standing in the tea aisle, do you ever pause at green tea vs jasmine tea, wondering which is best? It’s not just about skincare outcomes, it’s about selecting an ally for your skin and overall health. Are you ready to find out which tea should be your daily companion?

As usual, this post is based on the strongest nutritional evidence I could find with a focus on the simplest, most delicious foods

…because who has time to waste on actions that don’t work?

Taste Comparison: Green Tea vs Jasmine Tea

Green tea and Jasmine tea are two very popular types of tea, so I’m not surprised you’re wondering about them. Each provides distinct flavours that cater to different palates, yet both are uniquely appealing.

Green Tea Flavour Profile

Green tea, made from the camellia sinensis plant is renowned for its delicate flavour that can range from grassy and astringent to floral and sweet. Although this depends on the variety and brewing technique. 

Some of the most popular types include Chinese green tea and Japanese green tea, each offering a unique taste experience. 

Chinese green tea tends to have a more robust and slightly smoky flavour. Japanese green tea typically presents a fresher, more vegetal quality. The flavour profile of green tea can also change based on whether it’s a pure green tea or blended with other elements like jasmine or spices. This makes green tea really versatile.

Jasmine Tea’s Floral Notes

Jasmine tea elevates regular tea through a scenting process using jasmine blossoms to create a highly aromatic and sweet flavour. The jasmine scent imbues the tea with a delicate yet profound floral taste, transforming the base green tea into a more complex beverage. 

It’s markedly floral.

Jasmine pearls, a premium type of jasmine tea, are especially noted for their rich fragrance and smooth, slightly sweet taste.

For tea enthusiasts or even those new to tea drinking, the choice between green tea and jasmine tea comes down to taste preference. Do you prefer the crisp, clean notes of green tea or the sweet, perfumed layers of jasmine tea?

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What Makes Green Tea Your Skincare Darling?

Green tea is celebrated not just for its taste but also for its remarkable health benefits. Key among these is the presence of EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), a powerhouse antioxidant. With an antioxidant count of 135, much greater than black tea — it’s a skin care regime in itself (1). Here’s how green tea stands out:

Protects the skin from UV rays: reducing the risk of sun damage which can lead to premature ageing (2).

Enhances skin hydration and smoothness: making it feel more supple and youthful (2).

Drinking green tea can increase the antioxidant capacity of your bloodstream within 30 minutes, lasting up to two hours. And it’s 50% more effective than black tea in this regard (3).

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Improves elasticity: Green tea may increase skin elasticity over time, although the changes might not be visually noticeable without closer inspection (4).

Prevents pigmentation: Regular consumption is linked to fewer pigmented facial spots, although some interventional studies have shown mixed results (5).

With these benefits, green tea proves itself to be a vital part of your daily beauty routine, helping you manage everything from skin care to blood sugar levels efficiently. 

Whether enjoyed as a pure green tea or as a part of a green tea chai mixed with ginger and cinnamon, it offers a versatile solution to many of the challenges a health-conscious woman faces daily.

How Does Jasmine Tea Soothe Your Skin?

Transitioning to jasmine tea, the allure goes beyond the jasmine scent. It’s about the experience and the subtle ways it enhances your day. 

Jasmine tea provides a serene break from the chaos, each sip offering a hint of sweet flavour and floral notes. It’s not just about the aroma though—here’s what jasmine tea brings to the table:

Antioxidant Properties: Jasmine tea with a green tea base has more antioxidants compared to regular green tea. It contains beneficial compounds that help combat free radicals, which are responsible for premature ageing and skin damage.

Stress Reduction: Jasmine tea is well-known for its calming effects, thanks to its soothing scent. Stress can lead to inflammation and exacerbate skin problems like acne and eczema. By promoting relaxation and reducing stress, jasmine tea can indirectly benefit skin health, contributing to clearer and more radiant skin.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Jasmine tea possesses anti-inflammatory properties (6). This may help reduce skin inflammation, which can soothe irritated skin and help manage conditions like eczema and rosacea.

Drinking jasmine tea could be a delightful and aromatic part of your daily routine that not only pleases the palate but also supports skin health from the inside out.

Weight Management and Green Tea

Green tea is a powerhouse when it comes to health and weight management, thanks to its rich content of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds. Here’s how green tea can be a key component in managing your health and weight:

• Metabolic Enhancement: Research has shown that green tea can boost the metabolic rate in the short term, potentially leading to increased fat burning. For those managing weight, this can translate to better weight loss results as part of a balanced diet and exercise routine (7,8).
• Blood Sugar Regulation: Green tea can help regulate blood sugar levels by blocking the transport of sugar through the intestinal wall, which improves overall blood sugar control (9). This is particularly beneficial for those looking to manage or prevent type 2 diabetes.
• Reduced Cholesterol: Regular consumption of green tea has been linked to lower levels of LDL cholesterol and overall improved heart health, making it a great choice for those concerned with cardiovascular health (10).

Weight Management and Jasmine Tea

While jasmine tea may not boast as high an antioxidant count as green tea, there are still several health benefits of jasmine tea that can aid in weight management and overall wellness:

• Stress Relief: The fragrance of jasmine tea can create a soothing environment, reducing stress and enhancing your mood gently, which are often linked to overeating and weight gain. By providing a calming effect, jasmine tea can help maintain a balanced mood, which is crucial for managing eating behaviours.
• Hydration: Proper hydration is key for effective weight management, and jasmine tea is a delightful way to stay hydrated. Hydration is essential for optimal metabolic function and energy levels.
• Low in Calories: Jasmine tea is naturally low in calories, making it an excellent choice for those looking to reduce calorie intake without sacrificing flavour or the pleasure of a warm beverage.
• Digestive Health: The gentle soothing properties of jasmine tea can also aid digestion, which may be beneficial for overall gut health and can contribute to weight management (11).

Choosing between green tea and jasmine tea depends on your personal health goals, taste preferences, and how each fits into your lifestyle rhythm. Whether you’re looking for a robust antioxidant boost or a gentle, fragrant escape, both teas offer unique benefits that can be tailored to fit your daily routine and beauty regimen.

Caffeine Comparison

When selecting your daily tea, understanding the caffeine content of green tea vs jasmine tea is crucial. Especially if you are sensitive to caffeine or managing your caffeine intake for health reasons.

• Green Tea’s Caffeine Level: Green tea is known for a moderate amount of caffeine. It depends on the type and preparation. Typically, a cup of green tea contains about 15-30 mg of caffeine, providing a gentle boost without the jitters of too much caffeine.
• Jasmine Tea’s Lower Caffeine Content: Jasmine tea, often based on green tea, includes the additional flavour and aroma of jasmine flowers. This can slightly alter the caffeine content, but it generally remains lower than that of pure green tea. The caffeine level in jasmine tea is often appreciated by those looking for less caffeine in their diet, making it an excellent choice for late afternoon or evening enjoyment.

Note: If you have jasmine tea just made of the flowers, there should be any caffeine. 

Both teas offer their unique benefits and levels of caffeine, making them suitable for different times of the day and varying needs regarding energy and alertness. 

Whether you choose green tea for a morning energiser or jasmine tea for a calming nightcap, managing your caffeine intake effectively can contribute to better overall health and wellness.

Lifestyle Fit: Which Tea Should You Brew Daily?

Choosing which tea to brew daily isn’t just about flavour; it’s about fitting it into your fast-paced life. 

For a more robust start to your day, green tea remains a versatile and popular choice among tea lovers. 

Whether you’re kickstarting your morning or need a mid-afternoon boost, the green tea leaves in your cup are packed with antioxidants that energise and protect your health. All while fitting seamlessly into your daily routine.

For the best of both worlds, choose jasmine green tea, with its soothing green tea base. 

It offers a gentle uplift, perfect for those moments when you need peace without the caffeine crash. Infused with fresh jasmine flowers and jasmine buds, this type of tea combines the health benefits of green tea’s high levels of antioxidants with the aromatic calm of jasmine. 

The caffeine content of jasmine tea is manageable, making it a wise pick for late-day sipping or even a mindful morning start.

Expanding your tea selections, white tea and oolong tea are worth considering. White tea is known for its delicate flavour and lower caffeine levels, ideal for those who prefer a gentler type of tea. Oolong tea, which is partially oxidised, strikes a balance between green and black teas, offering a unique flavour that is perfect for those seeking a moderate caffeine level and a complex taste profile.

For those who favour a caffeine-free option, go for pure Jasmine tea (flowers only).

Or various herbal tea choices can beautifully round out your tea collection, suitable for any time of the day, especially before bed.

Whether you choose a jasmine tea with a green tea base, delve into the lightness of white, or explore the richness of oolong, each type of tea offers distinct benefits and flavours, supporting both your wellness and your enjoyment of life’s quiet moments.

Green tea vs Jasmine tea

Whether you lean towards the robust benefits of Green tea vs Jasmine tea, both can play a pivotal role in your health, wellness, and skincare regimen. Each offers unique flavours and benefits that cater to different needs throughout your day. Why not experiment with both and see which one aligns best with your lifestyle and beauty goals? After all, the best choice is one that makes you feel as radiant as you look.

References

Most references below will link to the original peer-reviewed study itself. However, sometimes I will link to a video over at NutritionFacts.org instead, which is by far the single best resource of brutally transparent nutritional evidence you will ever see. Dr Greger tells a great story about the realities of the science and if I think you will benefit more from one of his videos, the link will take you there instead.

Happy nerding!

1. Carlsen MH, Halvorsen BL, Holte K, et al. The total antioxidant content of more than 3100 foods, beverages, spices, herbs and supplements used worldwide. Nutr J. 2010;9:3. Published 2010 Jan 22. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-9-3
2. Heinrich U, Moore CE, De Spirt S, Tronnier H, Stahl W. Green tea polyphenols provide photoprotection, increase microcirculation, and modulate skin properties of women. J Nutr. 2011;141(6):1202-1208. doi:10.3945/jn.110.136465
3. Leenen R, Roodenburg AJ, Tijburg LB, Wiseman SA. A single dose of tea with or without milk increases plasma antioxidant activity in humans. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2000;54(1):87-92. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600900
4. Chiu AE, Chan JL, Kern DG, Kohler S, Rehmus WE, Kimball AB. Double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of green tea extracts in the clinical and histologic appearance of photoaging skin. Dermatol Surg. 2005;31(7 Pt 2):855-860. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2005.31731
5. Fukushima Y, Takahashi Y, Kishimoto Y, et al. Consumption of Polyphenols in Coffee and Green Tea Alleviates Skin Photoaging in Healthy Japanese Women. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020;13:165-172. Published 2020 Feb 10. doi:10.2147/CCID.S225043
6. Oliveira AP, Sá I, Pereira DM, Gonçalves RF, Andrade PB, Valentão P. Exploratory Studies on the in Vitro Anti-inflammatory Potential of Two Herbal Teas (Annona muricata L. and Jasminum grandiflorum L.), and Relation with Their Phenolic Composition. Chem Biodivers. 2017;14(6):10.1002/cbdv.201700002. doi:10.1002/cbdv.201700002
7. Dinh TC, Thi Phuong TN, Minh LB, et al. The effects of green tea on lipid metabolism and its potential applications for obesity and related metabolic disorders – An existing update. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2019;13(2):1667-1673. doi:10.1016/j.dsx.2019.03.021
8. Auvichayapat P, Prapochanung M, Tunkamnerdthai O, et al. Effectiveness of green tea on weight reduction in obese Thais: A randomized, controlled trial. Physiol Behav. 2008;93(3):486-491. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.10.009
9. Villa-Rodriguez JA, Aydin E, Gauer JS, Pyner A, Williamson G, Kerimi A. Green and Chamomile Teas, but not Acarbose, Attenuate Glucose and Fructose Transport via Inhibition of GLUT2 and GLUT5. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2017;61(12):10.1002/mnfr.201700566. doi:10.1002/mnfr.201700566
10. Schoeneck M, Iggman D. The effects of foods on LDL cholesterol levels: A systematic review of the accumulated evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2021;31(5):1325-1338. doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2020.12.032
11. Li A, Wang J, Zhang X, et al. Cold-Brewed Jasmine Tea Attenuates High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Gut Microbial Dysbiosis. Nutrients. 2022;14(24):5359. Published 2022 Dec 16. doi:10.3390/nu14245359