Why This Tea Was Curated
This Shou Mei white tea 2025 offers a delicate balance of herbal and woody aromas, making it an ideal choice for those who appreciate smooth, sweet flavors. Its versatility and aging potential make it suitable for both new and seasoned tea drinkers.
✔Elegant aroma with herbal and woody notes.
✔Smooth and sweet taste with a thick texture.
✔Aged potential, developing richer flavors over time.
Flavor Profile of Shou Mei 2025
Aroma: Herbal and woody notes with a gentle medicinal nuance
Taste: Gently sweet up front, then soft and smooth
Mouthfeel: Mellow, sweet, and full-bodied
Flavor Ratings
5 indicates the strongest intensity of that characteristic, not overall quality.
| Sweetness | 4 / 5 (5 = sweetest) |
|---|---|
| Bitterness | 1 / 5 (5 = most bitter) |
| Astringency | 2 / 5 (5 = most astringent) |
| Body / Thickness | 2 / 5 (5 = thickest body) |
| Roast Level | 0 / 5 (5 = darkest roast) |
| Brewing Ease | 5 / 5 (5 = easiest to brew) |
✔ Tea lovers who enjoy smooth and sweet flavors.
✘Those who prefer strong, bitter, or roasted teas.
How to Brew Shou Mei
Mug Brewing
Tea-to-Water: 2.5 g / 300 ml (10 fl oz)
Water Temp: 100°C (212°F)
Steep Time: 2–3 min
Longer steeping makes the tea stronger.
Gongfu Brewing
Tea-to-Water: 5 g / 120 ml (4 fl oz)
Water Temp: 100°C (212°F)
Steep Time: 7 sec · Increase gradually
Longer steeping makes the tea stronger.
Shou Mei Details & Specifications
| Tea Category | White Tea |
|---|---|
| Plucking Standard | One bud with two to three leaves. |
| Cultivar | Camellia sinensis cv. Fuding Da Hao |
| Season | Spring Tea 2025 |
| Oxidation Level | Lightly oxidized (minimally processed) |
| Aroma | Herb and woody aroma with slight medicinal aroma |
| Liquor Color | Bright yellow |
| Mouthfeel | Thick texture |
| Shelf Life | Suitable for long-term aging; flavor may improve over time under proper storage. |
| Caffeine | Low caffeine (less than 10% of a cup of coffee) |
| Storage | Store sealed, dry, away from light and strong odors. For aging: keep it sealed and dry at stable room temperature. |
| Origin | Bailin Town, Fuding City, Fujian Province, China |
Origin & Terroir of Shou Mei
Tea Origin (Bailin Town, Fuding, Fujian)
This Shou Mei white tea comes from Bailin Town, Fuding City, Fujian Province, China, a classic origin for Fuding White Tea (Fujian White Tea). The material is from Camellia sinensis cv. Fuding Da Hao, and is typically picked as one bud with two leaves—a plucking style that brings a fuller tea character and thicker body.
Compared with bud-forward styles like Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yin Zhen) or White Peony (Bai Mu Dan), Shou Mei is often more tea-forward, brewable, and long-drinking. It is also widely appreciated as a white tea for aging, developing a smoother, warmer profile over time—moving toward the character of aged white tea (Lao Bai Cha).
Our Selection Focus (Shou Mei)
We don’t lock sourcing to one fixed farmer or a single garden, because tea is an agricultural product and quality can vary year to year with climate, harvest timing, and processing details. Each season, we collect samples through multiple channels and repeatedly test and taste them.
For this Shou Mei (Fuding white tea), we prioritize liquor body and smoothness, clean sweetness and aftertaste, aroma purity (herbal/woody notes), brewing endurance, and aging potential. We then select the lot with the most consistent, clean, and long-drinking overall performance before offering it to you.
History of Shou Mei
Shou Mei (Shoumei white tea) is often traced to the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty (c. 1820–1850) in Zhangdun/Nankeng, Jianyang, Fujian. Local producers sold tea made with minimal processing—no pan-firing, no rolling, simply sun-dried—an early form of Chinese white tea. Because the best batches were said to be offered as tribute tea, it was linked to the name Gong Mei, while the everyday name Shou Mei (“Longevity Eyebrow”) comes from the eyebrow-like leaf shape.
By the late Qing period, Shou Mei was traded to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and overseas, valued for how well it ages. Today, Shou Mei white tea is one of the most affordable and widely available styles of Fujian white tea / Fuding white tea: made with more mature leaves, it brews a fuller, smoother cup, stays pleasant even if steeped longer, and is great for aged white tea. If you want top value for money and an easy way to explore how white tea gets sweeter with age, Shou Mei is a smart daily choice.
Shou Mei FAQs
Does Shou Mei contain caffeine?
Yes, Shou Mei has low caffeine content, less than 10% of a cup of coffee.
How should I brew Shou Mei?
For mug brewing, use 2.5 g of tea per 300 ml of water at 90°C (194°F) for 2-3 minutes. For Gongfu style, use 6 g per 120 ml for 10 seconds, increasing gradually.
What is the taste profile of Shou Mei?
Shou Mei offers a sweet entrance with a soft, smooth texture and a thick body.
Is Shou Mei suitable for beginners?
Yes, Shou Mei is a great choice for beginners due to its mild flavor and high brewing forgiveness.
What makes Shou Mei different from other white teas?
Shou Mei is more tea-forward and brewable compared to Silver Needle and White Peony, making it a unique choice for white tea enthusiasts.
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