Shou Mei 寿眉 2018
Tea Profile
Type: Aged Zhenghe White Tea
Grade: Shou Mei 寿眉
Location: Jinping Village 锦屏村, Zhenghe County, Fujian, China
Harvest Date: April 20, 2018
Cultivar: Da Bai 大白
Format: Loose leaf
The Story of This Tea
This Shou Mei was harvested in 2018 from Jinping Village in Zhenghe County, one of the traditional white tea-producing areas of northern Fujian. Made from Da Bai material, it has now had several years to develop naturally from the brighter character of younger white tea into something deeper, softer and more settled.
Shou Mei is made from more mature leaf material than Silver Needle or Bai Mu Dan, giving it a naturally fuller structure. This makes it particularly interesting with age, as its original sweetness gradually develops into warmer herbal, woody and dried-fruit characteristics while retaining the smoothness associated with well-made white tea.
The dry leaves of this 2018 harvest are tightly twisted and have matured to a deep brown colour. Their appearance reflects the tea’s years of natural transformation, while the fragrance has become stable and persistent, combining aged wood, honey and a subtle jujube sweetness.
In the cup, the tea shows the substantial character that makes aged Shou Mei so satisfying. The liquor remains clear and bright despite its depth, with a rounded body, pronounced natural sweetness and enough strength to continue through repeated infusions without becoming thin.
Aroma and Flavour
The aroma is mature and settled, opening with warm wood before revealing honeyed sweetness. A gentle dried-jujube note develops in the background and becomes particularly noticeable in the lingering finish.
The liquor is golden, clear and bright, with a full and rounded mouthfeel. Sweetness is present from the beginning and becomes increasingly pronounced as the leaves open. Despite its substantial body, the tea remains smooth and gentle, without roughness or excessive heaviness.
Years of ageing have brought the different elements together into a stable and integrated profile. Wood, honey and dried fruit move naturally through the session, while the finish remains long, sweet and comfortable.
- Aroma: Aged wood, honey and subtle dried jujube
- Flavour: Rich and naturally sweet, with warm woody depth, honey and gentle dried-fruit character
- Texture: Full-bodied, rounded and smooth
- Aftertaste: Lingering sweetness with a soft jujube note
- Liquor: Golden, clear and bright
- Steeping Endurance: Highly persistent through repeated infusions, maintaining body and sweetness deep into the session
Brewing Guidelines
Gong Fu Style
- Teaware: Porcelain gaiwan, glazed ceramic teapot or suitable clay teapot
- Ratio: 5–6 g per 100 ml water
- Water: 95–100 °C, ideally soft spring water or fresh filtered water
- Infusions: Brief rinse if desired; begin around 10–15 seconds and gradually extend. The mature leaves are highly tolerant of repeated brewing
Western Style
- Teaware: Porcelain, glass or glazed ceramic teapot
- Ratio: 4–5 g per 250 ml water
- Water: Around 95 °C
- Steeping: 3–4 minutes for the first infusion; resteep several times, extending the brewing time with each infusion
Why Choose This Tea
This 2018 Zhenghe Shou Mei offers an accessible way to experience how mature white tea develops with time. Its naturally substantial leaf material has evolved into a rich and settled profile of aged wood, honey and dried jujube, supported by a full, rounded liquor and pronounced natural sweetness.
Its greatest strength is persistence. Even after repeated brewing, the tea retains both flavour and body, making it particularly rewarding for a long Gong Fu session. The combination of mature character, smooth texture and lingering sweetness gives it the calm, deeply satisfying quality that many drinkers seek in naturally aged Shou Mei.
For those interested in aged Zhenghe white tea, this is a particularly approachable example: mature enough to show clear transformation, yet still bright, sweet and lively in the cup.