2022 Shoumei White Tea Pearl

Pressed White Tea Pearl from Fuding

Harvest : 04/05/2022

Brewing temperature: 100 °C, 2-3 minutes (1-2nd infusion), 1 minute (3-4th infusion), 40 seconds (after the tea pearl has completely opened into loose leaves). After the 8th infusion, this tea, like all Gongmei, Shoumei and aged white teas, can be boiled in water for 15 minutes to obtain a sweeter taste.

Four grades of Fuding white tea

Fuding white tea has four varieties: Silver Needle, Pai Mu Tan, Gong Mei, Shoumei. Silver Needle consists of only tea buds without leaves. It is usually picked between February and the end of March. Pai Mu Tan consists of a bud with one leaf or a bud with two leaves. It is usually picked from the end of March to the last week of April. Gong Mei and Shoumei are similar varieties - Gong Mei has some buds, but Shoumei has only large leaves. They are usually picked from the last week of April until before the start of summer, as well as in the fall. Good tea plantations usually do not pick in the summer because tea from summer has the least flavor.

Shoumei and Gongmei have noticeably more mature flavors than Silver Needle and Pai Mu Tan. While Silver Needle and Pai Mu Tan are known for their fresh, nutty and floral aroma and flavor, Gongmei and Shoumei tend to have a more mature flavor, reminiscent of Chinese red dates, dried plums and dried berries with a certain aroma of herbal medicine.