Shou Mei is a white tea

White tea

White tea is a lightly oxidized tea grown and harvested almost exclusively in China, primarily in the Fujian province.White tea comes from the delicate buds and younger leaves of the Chinese Camellia sinensis plant. These buds and leaves are allowed to wither in natural sunlight before they are...

 that is produced from naturally withered upper leaf and tips, with a stronger flavor reminiscent of lighter Oolong teas. It is mostly grown in the Fujian Province

Fujian

' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...

 or Guangxi Province

Guangxi

Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...

 in China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

. Because it is plucked later than Bai Mu Dan

Bai Mu Dan tea

Bai Mudan, known also as White Peony is a type of White tea made from plucks each with one leaf shoot and two immediate young leaves. Bai Mudan is sometimes preferred by white tea drinkers for its fuller flavor and greater potency than the other major type of white tea, Bai Hao Yinzhen. The latter...

 the tea may be darker in color, but it should still have a proportionate green color. Some lower grades of Shou Mei may be golden in color with a lot of black and red leaves, making a darker brew with more depth.

Technically this tea, being a fourth grade tea, is a by-product of Bai Hao Yinzhen tea

Bai Hao Yinzhen tea

Bai Hao Yinzhen, known also as Silver Needle, or White Down Silver Needle is a white tea produced in Fujian Province in China. Amongst white teas this is the most expensive variety and the most prized, as only top buds are used to produce the tea. Genuine Silver Needles are made from cultivars...

production and uses Da Bai or Large White leaves.

Tasting and brewing

The tea can be brewed very differently and you will find that there are many combinations that yield interesting results, but it is important to use good mineral water to bring out the sweetness and aroma of the tea and not to overbrew or make a bitter and very strong brew.