Why I Love the Jasmine Flower

There are three (3) reasons why I love the jasmine flower.
* Number 1: I love the fragrance.
* Number 2: When I lived in Miami, Florida, I had a Cuban friend named Jasmine (or Yasmin)..
* Number 3: I like the Disney Princess Jasmine.

Yasmin (Arab) or Yasamen (Persian) means “fragrant flower” and the name comes from the Persians and the Arabs.

Do you know how many types of Jasmine flowers there are? According to the Garden Lovers Club, even though there are 200 different species, you can narrow it down to ten (10) types.

1. Common jasmine
2. Arabian Jasmine
3. Asian Star jasmine
4. Cape Jasmine
5. Jasminum mesnyi
6. Night-Blooming Jasmine (Queen of the Night)
7. Pink Jasmine
8. Showy jasmine
9. Spanish jasmine
10. Winter jasmine

I am familiar with Cape Jasmine, but not by that name. What some people call Cape Jasmine, I call Gardenia.

The jasmine flower that I am most familiar with is Common Jasmine, which is a pretty star-shaped dainty little white flower that can make anybody's garden look amazing. This dainty little lady really gets around. “Originally native to Persia and Kashmir, and brought to Europe in quantities via Spain in the 17th century, Jasmine has a long and rich history in several cultures.”

~ The ancient Arabs believed that paradise must have been a place full of jasmine flowers.

~ Historical records indicate that the kings of Persia, Nepal, and Afghanistan had jasmine flowers planted around their palaces.

~ Arabian jasmine is the national flower of the Philippines.

~ Jasmine is also the national flower of Pakistan (but they call it Chameli).

~ In India, the flower is considered a sacred symbol of divine hope, good luck, and optimism. Many references are made to jasmine in the literature of ancient India. There is a reference to this flower in the Kama sutra as an aphrodisiac. It is used in Ayurvedic medicine for migraines, insomnia, and to treat certain skin infections.

~ In China, it represents feminine kindness, grace and delicacy, and they believe it is a means to attract love and wealth. (In other words, it's an aphrodisiac.) The Chinese use it to scent their green tea and in Chinese medicine to treat headaches, bone pain, and insomnia.

~ In Thailand, it is the symbol for motherhood.

~ To the Indonesians, the flower represents purity, eternal life, nobility, and the beauty of a girl. It is often used in wedding ceremonies and it is a national flower.

~ For centuries, Spanish jasmine has been cultivated in France and used to make perfumes; and it is vital to the French economy.

~ For commercial purposes (mainly the perfumery industry), jasmine is grown in Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria.

~ In Hawaii, jasmine is called pikake and the flowers are used to make leis or as a garnish for pastries; while the oil is used in aromatherapy.

~ While researching to prepare this article I learned about a movie called “Jasmine Flower” which stars one of my favorite Asian actresses, Joan Chen. Added to my watch list. Has anybody seen this movie?

Jasmine is called the King of Oils and the Queen of Flowers.
Both honors are fitting. Don't you think so?

NOTE: My original content previously published on ForumCoin.com.