Jasmine tea is scented tea, not a flower infusion
Most familiar jasmine tea combines a tea base with floral scent. It is not simply dried jasmine flowers in hot water.
Two things are working together
In a conventional jasmine tea, the tea leaf provides the body and the jasmine contributes fragrance. Green tea is a familiar base, though other tea types can also be scented. That means the cup still has the properties of its underlying tea, including caffeine when the base contains it. Calling the drink floral does not make it an herbal, caffeine-free infusion. A packet of flowers for infusion would be a different product and should be identified as such.
Scent does not require a visible garden
Traditional scenting brings tea into contact with fragrant jasmine flowers so that the leaf takes up their aroma. Flowers may be removed after the process, and some products retain a few for appearance. You therefore cannot judge the strength or care of scenting simply by counting visible petals. A packet with no obvious blossoms can still be aromatic. Conversely, a large number of decorative flowers does not automatically guarantee a balanced cup.
Some products use added flavouring rather than, or alongside, flower scenting. Read the ingredient information if the method matters to you. The front label's romantic language may not explain the distinction clearly enough on its own.
The tea should still be present
A good personal test is whether you enjoy the relationship between the floral aroma and the tea beneath it. The jasmine might be the first thing you smell, while the leaf provides a green, soft or brisk finish. If the scent feels overwhelming, that may simply be a poor fit for your preference; stronger is not always more satisfying. Compare a lighter-scented example before dismissing jasmine tea entirely.
Prepare the cup according to its base tea and the supplier's instructions. A long, hot steep can emphasise bitterness in some green tea bases without giving the fragrance the balance you want. Taste plain first and let the drink cool slightly. Notice whether the floral impression remains pleasant through the finish rather than judging only the first smell from the packet. This gives both parts of the tea a fair hearing.
