Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: dark brown and green, twiggy with some scattered buds
Water Temperature: 185 degrees
Steep Time: 10 seconds
Preparation Method: glass infuser
Liquor: buttery gold
This is the second tea I’ve reviewed from Los Angeles-based Hence Tea. They specialize in Chinese tea and teaware. Shou Mei is a grade of white tea primarily made up of larger leaves rather than buds as you might expect from Silver Needle. The name is often translated as “longevity eyebrow”. It is also harvested a bit later in the spring. Don’t let that fool you into thinking it isn’t worth drinking, though! I usually recommend trying a larger-leafed white tea first if you’re just starting to explore because they aren’t as delicate.
Leaf
The dry leaves were a mix of greens and browns with a dark, twiggy appearance. There were some scattered buds but it was almost entirely larger leaves. Don’t you think they look like an inviting pile of autumn leaves? I noticed a sweet, earthy aroma even before brewing. The brewing recommendation for Hence Tea Shou Mei was 185℉ water with an infusion time of just 10 seconds. That is a bit different than how I would usually brew a Shou Mei, but I think they help this tea shine. I opted to use a glass infuser so that I could watch the leaves dance.
Liquor
Hence Tea Shou Mei brewed up a buttery gold liquor. Tons of trichomes were visible in my cup and sharing pitcher, especially in sunlight. The taste was candy-sweet with notes of fresh timothy hay and a fruitiness that brought not quite ripe cantaloupe melon to mind. The mouthfeel was thick and smooth with no astringency at all. The subsequent infusions had a bit less oomph and complexity but they were still full-bodied. The brewed tea darkened to a more orange shade as I went.
I would definitely recommend giving Hence Tea Shou Mei a try, especially if you’re looking for a white tea that packs a bit more flavor. It is among the highest quality Shou Mei white teas I have reviewed here on the blog, but still fairly priced.
Have you tried Hence Tea Shou Mei? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
Shou Mei sample provided for review by Hence Tea.
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