Chinese white tea, or at least Fujian white tea, is separated into 4 different "grades" - Silver Needles (白毫银针), White Peony (白牡丹), Gong Mei (贡眉), and Shou Mei (寿眉). They are separated by their standard of picking, with Silver Needles at the top, only featuring single bud picking. Shou Mei is at the bottom, with few buds picked, but don't discount Shou Mei teas because of that. White teas with finer pickings like Silver Needle have a fresher, lighter, and more mellow taste. However, white teas with coarser pickings have a sweeter flavour with stronger notes to them. The standard of picking doesn't really define whether a tea is good or not good, but what's truly in the cup does.
Our Shou Mei White Tea is an aged white tea that's been aging for around 8 years. There's a saying in Chinese that goes like this "一年茶、三年药、七年宝“, which means "one year - tea, three years - medicine, seven years - treasure", in reference to the age of white tea. White teas aged seven years and above are "treasures" as they have reached a considerable height in terms of flavour, aroma, and character. We at Sipscollection are proud to offer this easy-to-drink aged white tea at an affordable price for all to try!
Tea Information
- Harvest Date: May 2015
- Origin: Fuding City, Ningde Prefecture, Fujian Province, China (中国，福建省，宁德市，福鼎市)
- Varietal: Fuding Da Bai (福鼎大白)
- Elevation: 1300m
- Source: Ms Wu 吴老板, a friend who runs a teashop in China
- Organic?: Unsure
Map
Brewing Guide
Gongfu Brewing:
- Leaf-to-water ratio: 5g/100ml
- Temperature: 90-95°C/194-203°F
- Steeping time: 30s, +15s for each subsequent steep
Western Brewing:
- Leaf-to-water ratio: 5g/400ml
- Temperature: 90-95°C/194-203°F
- Steeping time: 2m30s, +1m for each subsequent steep
Grandpa Style:
- Leaf-to-water ratio: 5g/300ml cup
- Temperature: 90-95°C/194-203°F
- Steeping time: 3-4m, top up to taste
Don't know anything about these brewing styles? Fret not! Read our "How to Brew Chinese Tea" article here!
* Ultimately, experiment with the different parameters to find what works for you. If you think it's too bitter, reduce the temperature. If it's too strong, reduce the number of leaves used. This is just a guide with rough parameters to get you started.
