Where does Shou Mei come from?
- Origin
- Fujian, China
- Plant
- Camellia sinensis
- Processing
- Mature leaves and buds withered and dried
White collection
Shou Mei
Camellia sinensis · Fujian, China
What is Shou Mei?
Shou Mei is a white profile associated here with Fujian, China. It is made from Camellia sinensis and processed as mature leaves and buds withered and dried. Expect descriptors such as dried fruit, autumn leaves, honey; flavor varies with harvest, storage, water, dose, and technique.
Caffeine context
Does Shou Mei contain caffeine?
Variable; mature material does not guarantee a caffeine-free cup.
People, place and practice
What is the history and tradition of Shou Mei?
Tea is more than leaf chemistry. This cultural overview separates documented history from legends and shows how the drink fits into daily life.
Roots and story
Shou Mei uses later-picked white-tea leaf material, giving it a darker, broader profile than Silver Needle or Bai Mudan. It is sold loose and compressed.
Where is it enjoyed?
How is Shou Mei traditionally served?
It can be steeped repeatedly or simmered when aged. Tea shops and collectors may store cakes, but age alone does not guarantee quality; clean provenance matters.
Starting ranges
How do you brew Shou Mei?
Start in the middle, then change one variable at a time to suit your tea and taste.
Western / mug style
| Water | 85–95°C (185–203°F) |
|---|---|
| Leaf | 4–6 g per 250 ml |
| Time | 4–7 min |
Gongfu style
| Water | 90–98°C (194–208°F) |
|---|---|
| Leaf | 6–8 g per 100 ml |
| First infusion | 20–40 sec |
| Infusions | 6–9 |
Evidence scope
What does research say about Shou Mei?
Aged-white-tea health claims are not established by its age or color.
Important limit: a source about a tea category, ingredient, or specific trial preparation does not prove a benefit for this named tea or your cup.
What should you know about safety?
Contains caffeine. Named tea styles do not have proven disease-treatment effects, and research on tea as a category cannot establish a result for this cup.
Traceable reading
Which sources support this profile?
- Acute change in resting energy expenditure and vital signs in response to white tea consumption in females: a pilot studyNutrition & Metabolism (PubMed) · A 32-person acute pilot using a measured white-tea preparation; short-term physiological measurements do not establish a durable benefit or prove an effect for a named white tea.
Matched gear
Products for brewing Shou Mei
Specific current products selected for this tea’s temperature, vessel, and measurement needs.
Best starter tea scale
Tea scales
KitchenTour Coffee Scale with Timer
A 0.1 g readout and built-in timer make leaf ratios and infusion timing easier to reproduce.
Best everyday value
Electric kettles
COSORI 1.7 L Glass Electric Kettle
The straightforward value pick when you mainly need fast boiling water, auto shutoff, and a wide opening for cleaning.
Best controlled-pour value
Electric kettles
COSORI Electric Gooseneck Kettle
Five presets, stainless-steel water contact surfaces, controlled pouring, and a 60-minute hold make it useful across tea styles.
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