Shou Mei (壽眉)

tea imagery: Gardener

Shou Mei is a white tea with a substantial proportion of leaves and stems. Fresh batches can have floral and grassy notes, hay and gentle sweetness; storage may bring dried-herb, fruit and woody aromas. It makes an everyday tea when you find a batch that suits your taste and budget.

History

Shou Mei uses shoots or leaves from suitable Dabai and Shuixian cultivars or local tea populations. Buds may be present too. The main steps are withering, drying and sorting. It is a broad type of white tea, rather than a single cultivar or tea from low-elevation gardens alone. Both loose and pressed forms are available. Before buying, check the harvest and storage, smell the dry leaf and taste the liquor. For aged tea, flavour matters more than a large number on the wrapper.

“Longevity Eyebrows” is a figurative name. The gardener in our illustration represents everyday work with tea plants and tea shared at home.

Terroir

Fujian, including Fuding and Zhenghe. Varies between gardens. Acidic soils; conditions vary between plots. From coastal areas to inland mountain valleys. One area may produce several white teas. Ask about the material and harvest of the particular batch.

Leaf

dry leaf: Leaves and stems, sometimes buds; greens, yellows and browns. Colour alone cannot establish age.

aroma in a warmed vessel: Hay and herbs, sometimes a floral or honey note.

aroma after brewing: Vegetal and floral notes; aged batches may suggest dried fruit and wood.

taste: Gentle sweetness with grassy or floral notes. Aged versions may be more woody.

finish: Check that the taste stays pleasant as it cools. Shorten brewing if it leaves your mouth dry.

Properties

Traditional descriptions: Fresh white tea is traditionally described as “cooling”.

What to know: Withering and drying change the composition of the leaves. Later changes depend on storage conditions.

Over a cup of tea: For reading, daytime conversation or tea at home.

Caffeine: Contains caffeine. A high proportion of large leaves does not give an exact amount per cup.

How to brew

A 200 ml teapot or mug with a roomy filter. 3 g per 200 ml at 95–100 °C. Time for each infusion: 90 s, 120 s, 180 s.

When to drink

Morning or daytime. Year-round. For exploring white tea as an everyday drink. Biscuits or mild cheese; taste the tea on its own first. At home with a book or conversation

What to notice

Look at the leaves, buds and stems.
Compare the dry and brewed aromas.
Note which infusion you enjoyed most.

Questions and answers

How do you brew Shou Mei?

A 200 ml teapot or mug with a roomy filter. 3 g per 200 ml at 95–100 °C. Time for each infusion: 90 s, 120 s, 180 s.

What does Shou Mei taste like?

Gentle sweetness with grassy or floral notes. Aged versions may be more woody.

How much caffeine is in Shou Mei?

Contains caffeine. A high proportion of large leaves does not give an exact amount per cup.

What else should I know about Shou Mei?

Withering and drying change the composition of the leaves. Later changes depend on storage conditions.