A Brief Introduction to Shou Mei Tea

Nanshan Shou Mei tea strips are slightly flat and curved, with a green color covered in white hairs (hao), resembling an elder's eyebrows. It has a lasting, elegant fragrance, a fresh, mellow, and smooth taste, a clear and bright liquor, and tender, intact green leaves after brewing. Below is a brief introduction to Shou Mei tea.

If you wish to tour Tianmu Lake, be sure to take a bamboo raft ride on the emerald waves and savor Nanshan Shou Mei tea; it will refresh your mind and spirit. Nanshan Shou Mei tea was developed by the Lijiayuan Tea Plantation in Hengjian Township. Under the guidance of senior tea engineering expert Zhang Zhicheng from Jiangsu Province, after five years of research, it passed appraisal in 1986. It won the Ministry of Agriculture's Famous Tea Award in 1989, the Jiangsu Provincial "Luyu Cup" award for four consecutive years from 1993 to 1996, and the special prize at the first "Zhongcha Cup" competition held by the China Tea Science Society in 1994.

【Origin】The main production area of Shou Mei tea is Jianyang County, Fujian Province. It is also produced in counties like Jian'ou and Pucheng, accounting for over half of the total white tea production.

【Characteristics】High-quality Shou Mei tea has prominent and numerous silvery buds (hao), an emerald green color, an orange-yellow or deep yellow liquor, even, soft, and bright infused leaves where the main veins appear red when held against light, a mellow and refreshing taste, and a pure, fresh aroma.

【Processing】The picking standard for Shou Mei tea is one bud with two leaves to one bud with two or three leaves, requiring the presence of white hairs (hao). Its production does not involve frying or rolling, consisting only of withering and baking processes, which are difficult to master.

【Benefits】Shou Mei tea is believed to help prevent cancer, counteract heatstroke, detoxify, and relieve toothache. Especially, aged Baihao Yinzhen (a premium white tea) can be used as a fever reducer for children with measles.

【Background】Shou Mei tea, sometimes called Gong Mei, is a white tea made from the buds and leaves of the Cai Cha (or 'Xiao Bai') sexual population tea bush. The rough tea made from these buds and leaves is called "Xiao Bai" (small white) to distinguish it from the "Da Bai" (big white) rough tea made from the buds and leaves of Fuding Da Bai or Zhenghe Da Bai tea bushes. Cai Cha buds were once used to make Baihao Yinzhen. Later, Da Bai was used for Baihao Yinzhen and Bai Mudan, while Xiao Bai was used to make Gong Mei. Generally, Gong Mei indicates a superior grade, with quality better than Shou Mei. In recent years, the name Gong Mei is typically used for export, and the commodity name Shou Mei is less common.

The above is an introduction to Shou Mei tea, hoping it helps everyone understand it better.