At a glance
Shoumei is a leafy white tea, often called Longevity Eyebrow in English. Its larger leaves and some stems distinguish it visually from bud-only Silver Needle. That difference in material is not by itself evidence that the packet is waste tea or unsuitable to drink.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 寿眉 |
| Tea family | White tea; check the actual product style |
| Associated origin | Fujian; this entry’s earlier examples centre on Fuding |
| Leaf form | Leafier shoots and leaves, with some buds and stems |
Taste and appearance
The old comparison describes a clean aroma and a full, fresh or more concentrated cup, with orange-yellow to deeper yellow liquor. Younger and older products, loose leaves and cakes may look and taste different. The earlier polysaccharide and ageing-aroma superiority claims are not treated as guaranteed benefits for every Shoumei.
The cover above shows the dry-leaf or cake illustration. These original pictures are inherited references, not TeaPlain tasting samples or proof of age, origin, grade, authenticity or image rights clearance.
Grade characteristics
This retains the earlier Chinese edition’s sensory comparison. It is not a complete verified current standard table and does not assign a grade to your packet. Product name, plant material, picking and a seller’s grade are different questions. Decorative star rankings are omitted.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare the grades.
| Feature | Legacy Extra-grade label | Legacy Grade 1 label |
|---|---|---|
| Dry-leaf shape | Fairly tightly curled leaves, fairly even and clean | Slightly curled/open leaves, some broken leaves |
| Dry-leaf colour | Reasonably grey-green | Slightly dark grey-green, some red pieces |
| Liquor | Fairly orange-yellow | Deep yellow |
| Aroma | Clean aroma | Full, clean aroma |
| Taste | Full, mellow, fresh and brisk | Strong and full |
| Infused leaves | Some bud tips, soft bright leaves | Coarser, somewhat open leaves, some red leaves |
The original sensory table labels its two columns Extra grade and Grade 1. Those inherited headings are shown explicitly as legacy labels, not certified current Shoumei grades. Its price list separately contains three tiers; no missing sensory column is invented.
Names and origin
The earlier entry describes tender shoots or leaves from Dabai, Shuixian or population-grown tea material. It names Guanyang, Diantou, Taimushan, Panxi and Bailin around Fuding. These are not an exhaustive map of all Shoumei production, nor proof of a packet’s exact plant material.
Everyday benefits
Brewed without added sugar, this is an ordinary tea drink that can be an alternative to sweetened drinks and contribute to fluid intake. It contains caffeine. These everyday properties do not establish that this named tea treats disease, lowers blood sugar or improves sleep. No TeaPlain clinical or brewing test is claimed here.
Who may enjoy this tea
You may enjoy it if you want to explore a leafier white tea and compare loose leaves with a cake. Choose a flavour and preparation that suits you rather than a sleep or blood-sugar promise.
When to take care
- Caffeine sensitivity or sleep problems: consider your total intake and timing if tea affects your sleep. A pale infusion is not a caffeine-free claim.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding or medicines: ask a clinician or pharmacist about your actual product, caffeine intake and relevant medicine instructions.
- Iron supplements: follow the medicine’s instructions about separating tea from the dose. Do not use tea as treatment for anaemia.
These are product and individual considerations, not a blanket ban based on traditional “hot” or “cold” labels, age, sex or a constitution category.
How to brew
Original prose: short gaiwan infusions
The original prose gives a white porcelain gaiwan, 1:20 tea-to-water ratio, 100°C / 212°F water, preliminary wetting/rinse and a 5-second drinking infusion before decanting. It does not give a measured tea dose. The amounts below are an editorial illustration of that ratio, not measurements inferred from the image.
| Detail | Original prose with an explicit ratio example |
|---|---|
| Tea | 5 g Shoumei as an editorial example; check loose versus cake form |
| Actual water | 100 mL / about 3.4 US fl oz, measured for the drinking infusion; 5 g at 1:20 |
| Vessel | Heat-safe porcelain gaiwan with room for leaves and the measured water |
| Water temperature | 100°C / 212°F |
| First drinking infusion | 5 seconds, then decant completely; account for filling and pouring time |
| Preliminary wetting/rinse | Separate from the drinking infusion; not a validated disinfection step |
Use the packet’s complete method first. These retained methods and editorial examples are awaiting hands-on testing. A cake may open differently from loose leaves; do not treat its fill fraction as a water measurement. The earlier more-than-ten-infusions statement is not a guarantee of equal-strength cups. Let the drink cool enough to sip; a steeping time does not measure a safe drinking temperature.
Read the original illustration separately
The cake illustration uses 5 g, 100°C water, an approximately eight-tenths fill and a ten-second first pour, then about five seconds longer for later infusions. It gives no vessel capacity or measured water. Keep its cake method separate from the original prose’s five-second, 1:20 method above. Do not assume the fill fraction establishes a ratio.
For another vessel, use a separate complete mug or pot method or the packet’s instructions. Do not carry the high-leaf gaiwan’s five seconds into a lower-leaf mug ratio and expect the same cup.
Adjust your cup
| What you notice | One change to try |
|---|---|
| Too strong, bitter or drying | Separate the liquid from the leaves; shorten contact time or use less tea next time |
| Weak or watery | Keep the measured water fixed and try a longer infusion before changing the leaf dose |
| Later infusions become stronger | Check whether liquid was left sitting with the leaves |
| Different from a flavour description | Compare the actual product and method; a description is not a promise for every cup |
Change one variable at a time. For a fuller sequence, see fix a disappointing first cup.
How to buy
Ask whether it is loose or compressed and distinguish harvest from pressing date. Check origin, producer, packaging and storage history for older packets. Larger leaves, stems or darker colour do not by themselves assign a grade or establish age.
Use the checklist in buy your first Chinese tea to compare actual packets.
China price reference
Undated figures retained from the Chinese edition, in Chinese yuan (CNY). No brand, product batch, storage record or quotation date was recorded. These are not verified current retail quotes, a market average or manufacturer-suggested retail prices.
| Chinese-edition tier | CNY per 500 g (one jin) | Equivalent CNY per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy Extra-grade label | 800 | 160 |
| Legacy Grade 1 label | 500 | 100 |
| Legacy Grade 2 label | 250 | 50 |
The 100 g column is an arithmetic conversion, not a quoted 100 g packet. Missing price or sensory tiers are not filled by guesswork. Compare the actual style, harvest, pressing where relevant, weight and channel; a currency conversion alone does not make a UK or US offer comparable.
How to store
Original storage method
For a small working amount, the original entry uses a closed foil or kraft pouch inside a small box or tin, kept dry and free of strong smells. Check that the inner packaging is food-suitable and moisture resistant; plain unlined paper is not equivalent to a sealed foil pouch. For a cake, gently remove the amount needed without leaving the main packet open.
Its larger-supply example uses three layers: arrange the tea in a foil pouch, remove excess air gently and seal; add and close an outer plastic bag; then put it in a cardboard box and tape the seams. Keep it cool and dry at ordinary room temperature. This preserves the original handling method, not a guarantee of improvement with age.
The earlier targets were below 25°C / 77°F and below 50% relative humidity. These are legacy environmental figures, not a verified expiry prediction. The source mentions a tea-storage standard, but a citation alone does not establish that your packet or home setup complies with it. No universal shelf life or remaining duration is assigned; follow the actual product label and packaging conditions.
In a UK or US kitchen
Choose a dry cupboard away from the hob or stove, dishwasher steam, sun and strong food smells. Reseal after use and keep a daily portion separate if it helps avoid opening the main supply repeatedly. Do not add moisture to imitate a tea warehouse or assume an old packet is automatically better or safe. See storing an opened packet for everyday handling.
Origin, processing and history
Withering and drying are central, followed by sorting in the simplified original map. A cake needs additional pressing/shaping. The older claim that leaf or stem chemistry guarantees superior ageing is not used to predict a packet’s future flavour.
Common questions
Do larger leaves and stems mean this is waste tea?
Not by themselves. Shoumei is a leafier product style. Compare manufacture, condition, product information and the seller’s grade system rather than requiring the bud-only appearance of Silver Needle.
Can pale or aged white tea be treated as caffeine-free?
No caffeine amount is established by colour, age or a tea-family name alone. Use actual product information where available and consider your caffeine intake and sensitivity. This tea is not presented as a sleep remedy.
Compare Gongmei or browse the white tea overview.
Editorial notes and updates
Updated 16 October 2026. This adaptation preserves useful original descriptions, sensory comparisons, China price figures, recipe variants, storage handling and usable images. Doubtful classification, clinical and ageing claims are revised or omitted. Current full grade clauses and historical prices are not certified. Original Chinese-labelled diagrams have English reading notes; no TeaPlain tasting, ageing or brewing test is claimed. Research and image decisions are recorded internally.