Flower

Jasmine

SanskritMallika, JatiBotanicalJasminum sambac (Mallika) or Jasminum grandiflorum (Jati)Also calledArabian jasmine, Sambac jasmine

Sweet, heady white blossoms that cool the heart and soften the mood, lovely in a pot of evening tea.

Jasmine, flower

In India, jasmine is everywhere. It is strung into garlands, tucked into braided hair and laid at the feet of the gods. Its Sanskrit names, Mallika and Jati, show up in old poems as often as in herbals. The scent alone seems to slow people down.

As a tea, the dried buds open in hot water and fill the room with a sweet, almost creamy perfume. Ayurveda reads that sweetness, along with a faint bitter note, as cooling. It is the kind of flower you reach for on a summer night when the heart feels a little too hot and the mind will not settle.

Ayurvedic Properties

RasaTastes
  • Sweet
  • Bitter
ViryaHeating or cooling
Cooling
VipakaPost-digestive effect
Sweet
AgniEffect on digestion
Neutral for agni

Little direct effect on digestion.

GunaQualities
  • Light
  • Soft
  • Subtle
TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
  • Vata: decreases, in moderation
  • Pitta: decreases
  • Kapha: neutral
  • decreases (calms that dosha)
  • increases (can aggravate it)
  • neutral or balancing
  • not known
  • V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha

Jasmine is a classic pitta flower, cooling and sweet without being heavy. Vata types enjoy it best warm and in modest amounts, since its cool nature can feel a bit airy on a cold day.

Traditional Uses

  • Traditionally used to support a cool, calm and open heart.
  • Traditionally used to support a gentle, uplifted mood in warm weather.
  • Traditionally used to support relaxation and restful evenings.
  • Traditionally used to support devotional practice as an offering flower.

How People Use It

  • TeaSteep 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried jasmine flowers in a cup of hot (not boiling) water for 3 to 5 minutes. Longer steeping can turn the flavor bitter.
  • WaterOn hot days, let a small handful of flowers soak in a jar of cool water for an hour or two, then strain. It makes a lightly scented sipping water.
  • TopicalA cooled jasmine tea can be added to a footbath at the end of a summer day. Patch test first if you are sensitive to fragrance.
Try This

Jasmine and Rose Summer Infusion

A fragrant cup for warm evenings when pitta is running high.

  • 1 cup hot water (just off the boil)
  • 1 teaspoon dried jasmine flowers
  • 1 teaspoon dried rose petals
  • A few drops of fresh lime juice (optional)
  1. Let the water cool for a minute after boiling.
  2. Pour it over the jasmine and rose. Cover and steep for 4 minutes.
  3. Strain, add lime if you like, and let it cool to warm or room temperature.
  4. Drink it outside if you can, as the sun goes down.

Pairs Well With

Cautions

  • Safety research on jasmine flower as a tea is limited. It has a long history as a food flavoring, but there is little formal study.
  • Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established. Please check with your midwife or doctor first.
  • Many "jasmine teas" are green tea scented with jasmine and contain caffeine. Our dried flowers are the blossoms only.
  • Skip it if you are sensitive or allergic to jasmine fragrance.
  • Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using it regularly, especially if you take any medication.

In Our Shop

Organic Jasmine Flower

Organic Jasmine Flower, from $6.50. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.

Shop Jasmine →

From the Journal

Sources and Further Reading

This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.