EN
Shou Mei ("Longevity Eyebrow") is a Chinese white tea made from more mature leaf than the delicate Silver Needle. This makes it fuller and brighter in flavor, with a rich yet soft liquor. That is why Shou Mei is loved both by those just discovering white tea and by experienced tea lovers.
The name refers to the shape of the leaf: long, slightly curved leaves resemble the white eyebrows of a sage. The tea is lightly withered and dried without rolling, then ideally rested for a while, after which the flavor becomes deeper. This batch is loose leaf, suitable for everyday tea drinking and for long sessions with several infusions.
Characteristics
- Type: white tea
- Country: China
- Form: loose leaf
- Flavor: dried fruit, wildflowers, a light tartness
- Brewing: 85–90 °C, up to 6 infusions
Aroma and Taste
Dry leaf: delicate and calm, with notes of dried grain, rose hip, wildflowers and herbs. The rinsed leaf smells of autumn foliage and a steamed oak bundle.
Liquor: the color of apple juice, clean and clear; the taste is full and harmonious, with dried herbs, ripe fruit and rose petals. By the fourth infusion, raisin, dried apricot and dried-fruit compote come through.
Aftertaste: slightly sweet, with a hint of sun-warmed fruit and rose hip blossoms.
Why You'll Love It
This is a tea for quiet evenings and unhurried conversations: it brings a sense of lightness and harmony. Brewed stronger, it gives a gentle, uplifting effect. Shou Mei will appeal to lovers of white, yellow and green tea, as well as sheng pu-erh, and suits both sharing with company and sipping alone.
How to Brew
Gongfu brewing (short infusions, gaiwan or Yixing teapot):
- 190 ml gaiwan: 3–5 g of tea
- Water at 85–90 °C; rinse the leaf quickly first
- First infusions of 10–15 s, then increase the time
- The tea holds up for about 6 infusions
Western-style brewing (teapot or thermal tumbler):
- 3 g of tea per 200 ml of water
- Temperature 85–90 °C
- Steep for 3–5 min
- For a second infusion, 5–7 min is enough
Storage
Store in tightly closed packaging in a cool, dry place, away from direct light and foreign odors.
