FUDING SHOU MEI
LONGEVITY EYEBROWS
WHITE TEA
★ PESTICIDE-FREE GARDENING
Fuding, Fujian, China
Shou Mei is an aged white tea from Fuding, produced from mature leaves and stored to develop depth over time. With aging, its profile evolves from fresh vegetal notes toward warmer tones of dried fruit, wood, and honeyed sweetness. This tea is valued for its smooth structure, stability, and the complexity that emerges through years of natural transformation. MORE
357g cake
AROMA
Dried fruits, Wood
TASTE
Woody, Honey
VARIETAL: Fuding Da Bai
HARVEST: Spring, 2015
WHITE TEA
★ PESTICIDE-FREE GARDENING
Fuding, Fujian, China
Shou Mei is an aged white tea from Fuding, produced from mature leaves and stored to develop depth over time. With aging, its profile evolves from fresh vegetal notes toward warmer tones of dried fruit, wood, and honeyed sweetness. This tea is valued for its smooth structure, stability, and the complexity that emerges through years of natural transformation. MORE
357g cake
AROMA
Dried fruits, Wood
TASTE
Woody, Honey
VARIETAL: Fuding Da Bai
HARVEST: Spring, 2015
White tea technology is one of the oldest tea processing techniques on earth when tea was considered a medicine. White tea is prepared according to a special technology of natural withering and drying, while maintaining its rich internal content with substances such as active enzymes, polyphenols, etc. Due to the special cultivars, climate, quality of the tea leaves, and low level of oxidation, this type of tea provides maximum vitamins and microelements. The highest quality white teas are made from spring young buds and leaves, traditionally dried under the sun.
Chinese traditional medicine claims that white tea has a cooling nature, dissipating heat and reducing fire. White tea strengthens the immune system, reduces the risk of heart disease, lowers blood pressure, prevents the development of cancer cells, and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is considered that after 7 years of ageing, white tea acquires healing properties and could be used as a medicine. The taste develops and becomes richer and deeper.
Chinese traditional medicine claims that white tea has a cooling nature, dissipating heat and reducing fire. White tea strengthens the immune system, reduces the risk of heart disease, lowers blood pressure, prevents the development of cancer cells, and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is considered that after 7 years of ageing, white tea acquires healing properties and could be used as a medicine. The taste develops and becomes richer and deeper.
Learn more about BIOCHEMISTRY OF A TEA LEAF
EASTERN (PIN CHA) ★
Temperature: 80-95 °C
Amount: 3-5 grams per 120 ml of water
Steeping: 10-30 sec x 7+
WESTERN (INFUSION)
Temperature: 90 °C
Amount: 2-3 grams per 250 ml of water
Steeping: 1-2 min x 3
Learn more about TEA BREWING METHODS
Tea absorbs surrounding aromas and moisture and loses its properties, including taste and aroma. Store it in a dry and cool place in airtight packaging. Avoid direct exposure to the sun and high temperatures.
BEST BEFORE: 2 years since production date!
*When properly stored, this tea gets better with time!
BEST BEFORE: 2 years since production date!
*When properly stored, this tea gets better with time!
Learn more ABOUT TEA STORAGE
ABOUT
2015 Fuding Shou Mei is an aged white tea produced in Fuding, in China. It is made from mature leaves and later spring harvest material, typically consisting of larger leaves with minimal bud content. This composition gives the tea a naturally fuller structure and makes it particularly suitable for long-term aging.
The production follows the classical white tea method, involving minimal processing without rolling or shaping. After harvesting, the leaves undergo controlled withering and slow drying, preserving their internal structure while allowing gradual, natural oxidation. Over time, through proper storage conditions, the tea continues to evolve, developing deeper and more complex characteristics compared to its fresh state.
Shou Mei occupies an important place within white tea culture, especially in the context of aged teas. It is valued for its ability to transform over time, moving from a more direct and vegetal profile toward a warmer, more rounded expression. The 2015 vintage reflects this evolution, offering a stable and mature character shaped by both its origin and the process of natural aging.
TERROIR
The region is characterized by a humid subtropical climate with regular rainfall, moderate temperatures, and consistently high air humidity, creating stable conditions for continuous tea growth. These conditions support the development of larger, more mature leaves, which form the basis for Shou Mei production.
The terrain consists of rolling hills and low to mid-elevation mountains with well-drained, slightly acidic soils rich in organic matter. This environment allows steady plant growth without excessive stress, contributing to the density and structural integrity of the leaves. The maturity of the raw material provides a foundation for both immediate body and long-term aging potential. Microclimate factors such as cloud cover, diffused sunlight, and high humidity influence the biochemical composition of the leaves. Compared to early spring teas, the later harvest period results in a lower concentration of amino acids and a higher presence of polyphenols, supporting a more structured and stable profile. These characteristics are essential for aging, allowing the tea to gradually develop deeper notes such as dried fruit, wood, and honey.
Another important aspect is the interaction between terroir and time. While the original growing conditions define the base structure of the tea, long-term storage allows slow transformation of its chemical composition. This evolution reflects both the natural qualities of Fuding terroir and the controlled aging process, resulting in a tea with increased depth, smoothness, and complexity.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The dry leaf consists of larger, open leaves with a darkened brown to deep amber tone, reflecting natural aging over time. The aroma of the dry leaves is warm and developed, with notes of dried fruit, aged wood, honey, and a subtle herbal nuance. In a preheated teapot, the leaves open gradually from the first infusion, releasing a deep and rounded aromatic profile, where sweet, woody, and slightly medicinal tones are balanced by soft fruit-like nuances. As the infusion develops, the aroma becomes more integrated, combining honeyed sweetness with warm, mature depth and a calm, stable character.
The aroma of the liquor is rich and smooth, with layered notes of dried fruit, light wood, and gentle sweetness. The taste is soft and full, with a medium to full body and a smooth, rounded texture. A natural honeyed sweetness forms the core of the profile, supported by notes of dried fruits, light herbal tones, and almost no astringency. The structure is stable and mature, offering depth without sharpness. The aftertaste is long and warming, with a persistent sweetness and a calm, slightly woody finish. In the empty cup after drinking, a delicate sweet and aged aroma remains, leaving a deep and composed final impression.
2015 Fuding Shou Mei is an aged white tea produced in Fuding, in China. It is made from mature leaves and later spring harvest material, typically consisting of larger leaves with minimal bud content. This composition gives the tea a naturally fuller structure and makes it particularly suitable for long-term aging.
The production follows the classical white tea method, involving minimal processing without rolling or shaping. After harvesting, the leaves undergo controlled withering and slow drying, preserving their internal structure while allowing gradual, natural oxidation. Over time, through proper storage conditions, the tea continues to evolve, developing deeper and more complex characteristics compared to its fresh state.
Shou Mei occupies an important place within white tea culture, especially in the context of aged teas. It is valued for its ability to transform over time, moving from a more direct and vegetal profile toward a warmer, more rounded expression. The 2015 vintage reflects this evolution, offering a stable and mature character shaped by both its origin and the process of natural aging.
TERROIR
The region is characterized by a humid subtropical climate with regular rainfall, moderate temperatures, and consistently high air humidity, creating stable conditions for continuous tea growth. These conditions support the development of larger, more mature leaves, which form the basis for Shou Mei production.
The terrain consists of rolling hills and low to mid-elevation mountains with well-drained, slightly acidic soils rich in organic matter. This environment allows steady plant growth without excessive stress, contributing to the density and structural integrity of the leaves. The maturity of the raw material provides a foundation for both immediate body and long-term aging potential. Microclimate factors such as cloud cover, diffused sunlight, and high humidity influence the biochemical composition of the leaves. Compared to early spring teas, the later harvest period results in a lower concentration of amino acids and a higher presence of polyphenols, supporting a more structured and stable profile. These characteristics are essential for aging, allowing the tea to gradually develop deeper notes such as dried fruit, wood, and honey.
Another important aspect is the interaction between terroir and time. While the original growing conditions define the base structure of the tea, long-term storage allows slow transformation of its chemical composition. This evolution reflects both the natural qualities of Fuding terroir and the controlled aging process, resulting in a tea with increased depth, smoothness, and complexity.
ORGANOLEPTICS
The dry leaf consists of larger, open leaves with a darkened brown to deep amber tone, reflecting natural aging over time. The aroma of the dry leaves is warm and developed, with notes of dried fruit, aged wood, honey, and a subtle herbal nuance. In a preheated teapot, the leaves open gradually from the first infusion, releasing a deep and rounded aromatic profile, where sweet, woody, and slightly medicinal tones are balanced by soft fruit-like nuances. As the infusion develops, the aroma becomes more integrated, combining honeyed sweetness with warm, mature depth and a calm, stable character.
The aroma of the liquor is rich and smooth, with layered notes of dried fruit, light wood, and gentle sweetness. The taste is soft and full, with a medium to full body and a smooth, rounded texture. A natural honeyed sweetness forms the core of the profile, supported by notes of dried fruits, light herbal tones, and almost no astringency. The structure is stable and mature, offering depth without sharpness. The aftertaste is long and warming, with a persistent sweetness and a calm, slightly woody finish. In the empty cup after drinking, a delicate sweet and aged aroma remains, leaving a deep and composed final impression.
WHITE TEA
Explore more White Teas from the AN SHIM TEA Collection.