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Some botanists now agree that the plant originated from India -- from
the northern parts of the Himalayan valleys, although it is grown throughout
India today. Others place the origins of the sampaguita even farther
off to Egypt and Persia or present-day Iran.
Since ancient times Jasmine has been thought of as the 'queen of flowers'.
The name Jasmine is derived from the Persia 'yasmin', meaning a fragrant
flower. It's also a Persian girl name.
Plant must have been introduced into Egypt prior to the time of the
XXI dynasty (around 1000 BC).
It was said that a Chinese emperor of the Sung dynasty (960-1279 AD)
had Jasmine in his palace grounds so he could enjoy its fragrance. In
the 1400s, Jasmine was planted for kings of Afghanistan, Nepal and Persia.
Varieties of Jasmine used in perfume, found their way to places across
the seas -- beginning from areas along the Arabian Sea, such as Persia
and India then crossing the Red Sea into Egypt. They reached into the
territory around the Aegean Sea into Turkey and Greece. And, they spread
to areas along the Mediterranean Sea from Africa through Egypt, Algeria
and Morocco -- reaching Western Europe through Spain by Moors in 1600,
and France and Italy.
The plant was introduced into Britain in the latter part of the 17th
century.
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Jasmine sambac ("Maid of Orleand" single variety), sampaguita,
is the national flower of Phillipines. It is a symbol of purity, simplicity,
humility and strangth.
Referring to famous Swedish botanist Linnaeus, he wrote that the natives
of India used the young leaves and flowers to make a putty, which was mixed
and eaten with rice to dry scabies and other skin eruptions.
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In India some varieties are used as religious offerings symbolizing
divine hope. The Hindus string the flowers together as neck garlands
for honoured guests. The flowers of one of the double varieties ("Belle
of India") are held sacred to Vishnu and are used as votive offerings
in Hindu religious ceremonies.
Pictures: Left - many Indian women wear garlands of Jasmine flowers
in their hair. This woman was stringing some garlands in a market.
Below: Jasmine sambac ornament
 
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The variety Jasminium sambac, is a clustered flower of equally strong
scent known in Hawai'i as the "Pikake". It was a favorite
of Princess Kaiulani who was also very fond of Peacocks, thus the name
of the flower pronounced as pea-cock-kay".
Jasmine sambac is one of Indonesia national flowers. It is used in
Indonesia as a popular garnish. The existence of the Jasmine flower
is described comprehensively in the script called Siwaratrikalpa (old
Javanese literature) composed around XV AD when Adi Suprabawa governed
the Majapahit kingdom, East Java. This flower was called "menur"
in this script. It also stated that Jasmine has already existed in Indonesia
since XV AD and this is a good flower to worship Ciwa in the new moon
of the seventh month or the month of Magha. This is the holy night to
worship Ciwa to wipe out one's sin. Magha comes once a year or every
420 days according to the Balinese calendar. The Ciwa worshippers use
Jasmine flowers in their offerings. It is believed that this flower
brings forgiveness and blessing and eventually they will be able to
be united with Ciwa in heaven.
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The Jasmine flower is called by different names in Indonesia or Bali
- menur, melur, menuh, melati and melate. In Javanese weddings, this
flower is commonly used for hair and dagger decorations for the bride
and the groom. On the contrary it is not used in Balinese weddings.
In Bali other flowers are used for the wedding such as the yellow and
white Champak flower including Kenanga. The Jasmine flower can also
be used to cure fevers as well as to flavor tea or to make perfume.
In Bali people plant this in themain temples or the family temples.
Jasmine is a good flower to use as a medium of praying to worship the
god Iswara. The color of this god is white and located in the east.
This flower is also used for the big ceremonies such as Tawur Agung
- the ceremony to bless the whole world.
In Borneo it is the custom among the women to roll up Jasmine blossoms
in their well-oiled hair at night.
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Jasmine tea has been made since ancient times and is said to have spiritual
powers. This tea is cleverly made by resting the tea leaves strategically
beside the powerfully scented Jasmine flowers. The scent is then used
in the leaves capturing its essence to create an aromatic affair. In
Asia the flowers are used to scent not only teas but desserts as well.
The scenting technique of the green tea belongs to Chinese Sung dynasty
of the 13th century and consists in blending a few leaves of non-fermented
tea with Jasmine flowers for some hours at night, when they release
their essential oils.
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Jasmine chocolate of the Grand Duke of Tuscany
- 10lb roasted, crushed cocoa beans
- Jasmine flowers
- 8lb sugar
- 3oz vanilla pods
- 4oz cinnamon
- 1/12 oz ambergris
Layer the Jasmine and the cocoa. Leave for 24 hours, then mix and add more
layers. Repeat 10 times. Add the remaining ingredients and grind together.
The Chinese, Arabians and Indians used Jasmine medicinally, as an aphrodisiac
and for ceremonial purposes. The root is used in China to treat headaches,
insomnia, and pain due to dislocated joints and broken bones; it is reported
to have anaesthetic properties..Several Jasminium species have been used in
cancers
Aroma-therapists find the Jasmine flower an antidepressant and relaxing herb
which is said to help with dry or sensitive skin and tiredness. In vapor therapy
Jasmine oil can be useful for addiction, depression, nervousness, coughs,
relaxation and tension. Jasmine oil can be used as a blended massage oil or
diluted in the bath for almost everything: addiction, postnatal depression,
relaxation, muscle pain, coughs, tension, stress and nervousness. Jasmine
oil can be used in a base cream or lotion for dry or greasy and sensitive
skin, as well as assisting with stretch marks and scars.
In Borneo young Jasmine leaf is boiled and the infusion is taken to treat
gallstones. Root is boiled and the infusion to treat diabetesmellitus.
Jasmine essential oil has a sweet, exotic and rich floral smell and the oil
is deep orange-brown in color. Jasmine small white star-shaped flowers picked
at night when the aroma is most intense.
The yield of flowers per hectare in 6000 lb in sambac (about 200 g/bush).
Since the Jasmine flowers are highly perishable and have to be disposed off
in the market within few hours after picking. An experienced picker can pick
10,000-15,000 blossoms per day. France, Italy, Morocco, Egypt, China, Japan
and Turkey produce the best oil. The oil from the sweet smelling Jasmine has
been known to be one of the most expensive scents in the world costing upwards
of $1,500-3,000 a pound. Today it is a billion dollar plus industry in France
growing Jasmine and distilling its perfume.
In manufacturing, Jasmine oil is produced as a 'concrete' by solvent extraction,
and an absolute is obtained from the concrete by separation with alcohol,
and an essential oil is produced off the absolute by steam distillation. 1,000
lb of flowers (about 4 mln flowers) yield approximately one pound of liquid
concrete, which yields 0.2% aromatic molecules. The main chemical components
of Jasmine oil are: Benzyl, Nerol, Terpineol, Linalyl acetate, Methyl anthranilate,
Jasmone and Farnesol.
Little bit of math. From one hectare 6 lb of luqid concrete can be produced,
or 0.5 g of oil. Which is about 12 drop of Jasmine oil. Can you image that?
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Jasmine sambac ("Maid of Orlean" variety) is the national
flower of Phillipines - sampaguita. It is a symbol of purity, simplicity,
humility and strength. Its blossom is celebrated in Philippine legends,
stories and songs. In the Philippines, the sampaguita also has a number
of names: sambac, sampagung, campopot, lumabi, kulatai, pongso, malur
and manul.
In 1934 Governor-General Frank Murphy, moved by sentiment, named it
a national symbol. "Sentiment has dictated the selection of national
flowers either symbolical of certain national or sentiments, or reminiscent
of some important historical or traditional events," Murphy explained
in Proclamation Number 652. "France has her fleur-de-lis and Japan
her cherry blossom," he said. "In the same way the Philippines
should have her national flower."
On advice from the secretary of agriculture, Murphy concluded: "Considering
its popularity, ornamental value, fragrance and the role it plays in
the legends and traditions of the Filipino people, I hereby declare
the sampaguita to be the national flower of the Philippine Islands.
Done at the City of Manila, this first day of February, in the year
of our Lord, nineteen hundred and thirty four."
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Sampaguita, a Spanish term, comes from the Pilipino words "sumpa kita,"
which means "I promise you." It is a pledge of mutual love. In early
days, a young couple exchanged sampaguita necklaces much like a bride and
groom exchange wedding rings nowadays. To this day, garlands of sampaguita
are offered to dignitaries and special guests.
Jasmine arrived in the Philippines in pre-recorded times, most likely as
an item of barter or gift on board trade boats plying the South China Sea.
In the Philippines a type of Jasmine called sampaga was described as early
as 1698 when Ignacio Mercado, an Augustinian monk, first wrote about its medicinal
use in the Declaracion de las virtudes de los arboles y plantas que estan
en este libro. In translation, Mercado said that the leaves of the sampaga
(which has bigger flowers than sampaguita) made a wonderful syrup to comfort
the heart. The vapor was a good cure for asthma.
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We make our own Jasmine tea. The best tea is made with Maid of Orleans
(single flower) variety. We pick up fully open flowers and leave them
in a cup with hot water for 15-30 min. The extract is added to tea or
taken pure. Try it yourself.
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We found some unusual ways to use Jasmine flowers. When we prune our
"Grand Duke", we use fully developed flowers to make a tea
and feed buds to our rabbit.
He loves it. Probably, he knows about numerous medical uses of Jasmine
:)
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Our large pacu fishes love undeveloped Grand Duke buds, too
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