Shoumei tea facts for kids
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| Type: | White |
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| Other names: | Sow Mee, Longevity Eyebrow, 壽眉, 寿眉 |
| Origin: | China |
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| Quick description: | A fruity furry white tea that is a chaotic mix of tips and upper leaf, it has a stronger flavor than other white teas, similar to Oolong |
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Shoumei (which means "Longevity Eyebrow" in Chinese) is a special kind of white tea. It comes from China, mostly from Fujian Province and Guangxi Province. This tea is made from the upper leaves and tips of the tea plant that have dried naturally.
Shoumei has a stronger taste than many other white teas. Some people say it tastes a bit like lighter oolong teas. Because it's picked later in the season, Shoumei tea leaves can be a bit darker. But they should still have a nice green color mixed in. Some lower quality Shoumei might look more golden with some black and red leaves. This makes a darker, richer tea when brewed. This tea is made from special 'Large White' leaves.
How to Brew Shoumei Tea
Shoumei tea is grown in Fujian province, China
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Brewing Shoumei tea can be fun, as different ways give different tastes! The most important thing is to use good, clean mineral water. This helps bring out the tea's natural sweetness and lovely smell. You don't want to brew it for too long, or it might become bitter and too strong.
White teas, like Shoumei, are usually brewed with cooler water than black teas. A good temperature is around 70 degrees Celsius (about 158 degrees Fahrenheit). How long you let the tea steep (soak in the water) also changes the taste a lot.
Western Style Brewing
If you are making tea in a regular mug or a large teapot, this is called "western style" brewing. For this, you can steep your Shoumei tea for about two to five minutes.
Gong Fu Style Brewing
There's also a traditional Chinese way of brewing called "gong fu style." This uses a special small teapot called a gaiwan or yixing teapot. You use more tea leaves and less water, and you share the tea among friends. In this style, you only steep the tea for a very short time, sometimes just a few seconds!
