The Dance of Jasmine & Oolong
The tea of this month is a fragrant love song
In the softness of the afternoon light, the wind drifts through carrying whispers of freshness. A lullaby of robins and sparrows soothe my ears as I surrender to the tranquility of the moment. My gaze lingers on the shadows of the trees cast upon the curtain wavering and swaying, a silent dance with the wind. A few stray rays of sunlight slip through the branches, finding my face, warming my skin, holding my heart. It is the perfect time for tea, pairing beautifully with Rabi’a’s poems from the book I’m reading.
I’m currently in Mexico City so I bring out my traveling tea set, placing each piece with quiet reverence, savoring each part of this ritual. Every tea I steep carries a memory, a place, a moment. This one, I found in a small tea shop in Bordeaux during a brief pause before entering the monastery. I had spent time exploring scents, letting each leaf tell its story, when the scent of jasmine invaded the room as soon as a new tin was opened. My breath followed curiously the source. Beneath the jasmine, a darker note, grounding yet soft. Oolong, he said, the blue tea.
A Love Story
Enchanted by this fragrant encounter, I had to know how such a union came to be. In the quiet hours of the night, a delicate ritual begins. Oolong leaves, tightly curled, are laid in gentle layers. Fresh jasmine blossoms, luminous and fleeting, are scattered upon them, surrendering their essence to the tea.
As the night deepens and the moon keeps watch, the leaves drink in the perfume. By dawn, when the flowers have given all they can, they are lifted away, leaving only their lingering spirit behind. When night falls again, fresh jasmine returns—twice, three times, until tea and blossom are entwined beyond separation.
They make love through the darkness until fragrance and leaf are no longer two but one. The oolong, once earthy and rich, now carries the sweet softness of jasmine, a dance of leaf and flower, a love story steeped in time, waiting to unfurl in my cup.
I love this moment for me. Just noticing and appreciating, tasting and enjoying. It fills me with unwavering joy, I feel complete and at peace when the warm water touches my lips.
In love,
La Sultana
How to brew it
Gongfu-style Brewing (Traditional Chinese method):
Water temperature: 90–95°C
Tea leaves: 5g per 150ml gaiwan.
Steeping time:
1st infusion: Quick rinse (3–5 sec).
2nd infusion: 10–15 sec.
Increase by 5–10 sec for each additional steeping (can be infused 5–8 times).
Health Benefits
Relaxation & Stress Relief: Jasmine’s natural aroma promotes a sense of calm and relaxation.
Boosts Digestion: Oolong aids in digestion by stimulating metabolism and reducing bloating.
Supports Focus & Clarity: The combination of L-theanine and mild caffeine helps improve focus without overstimulation.
Antioxidant Power: Rich in polyphenols, supporting heart health and reducing oxidative stress.