Madurai Malli

Madurai Malli is the celebrated jasmine grown in and around the temple city of Madurai, regarded as one of the finest jasmines in the world. Unlike ordinary jasmine, it is distinguished by its thick, fleshy petals, longer buds, brilliant white colour and an exceptionally strong, long-lasting fragrance that lingers even after the flowers begin to fade. The unique aroma is credited to the soil, water and warm climate of the Madurai region, where the flowers are hand-picked before dawn while still in bud to preserve their scent. Deeply woven into local life, the jasmine is used in temple worship, weddings and the strings of flowers women wear in their hair, and it is exported fresh and processed for perfume oils. The crop supports thousands of farming and flower-trading families and is a fragrant emblem of Madurai's cultural identity.