Fuding Shou Mei White Tea Cake 2018

TeaVivre's this Fuding white tea cake is harvested in autumn. At this time of year the temperature difference between day and night is relatively large. During the day, the sunlight and temperature allow tea to fully photosynthesize and accumulate abundant aromatic substances. The sharp drop in temperature in night allows the white tea to produce more pectin and soluble sugar, which is released into the liquid and make it sweeter. Compared with Shoumei picked in spring, the autumn Shoumei has more colors, mainly in the form of yellowish brown, dark green and other colors.

The tea leaves wake up and stretch naturally under the 90℃ hot water, and the substance inside the tea slowly melts into the water. At the first infusion, the taste has not come out completely, but it is still sweet and the sweetness spreads across the tongue after you drink it. Gradually, the taste becomes obvious, soft and smooth with pleasant aroma. No matter in hot summer or cold winter, a cup of Shoumei can help lighten your mood.

	Cup Method		Chinese Gongfu Method
	Teacup: 12oz / 355ml		Gaiwan: 3.8oz / 110ml
	203℉ / 95℃		203℉ / 95℃
	5g Tea		5g Tea
	Brewing time: 5 - 8 mins		7 steeps: rinse, 25s, 40s, 50s, 70s, 90s, 120s, 150s
			Rinse time is around 5 seconds

Chaitou Shan Tea Garden is located in Fuding, the hometown of white tea. The plantation here is always surrounded by fog, creating the perfect conditions for the tea bushes to accumulate a rich array of microminerals and organic nutrients. The soil is red and yellow in color, signifying that it is rich in organic material. The tea plants growing here are mainly of the Fuding Dabaihao variety.

This Shou Mei cake is produced in Fuding, a famous tea production area located in the northeast of Fujian Province. This area experiences a subtropical monsoon climate, characteristic of coastal areas, with about 1840 total hours of sunshine through the year, and an annual average temperature of 18.5C and rainfall of 1661.6mm.

This Shou Mei white tea cake is made from the leaves of the Fuding Dabaihao plant, also called Dahao for short. It propagates asexually and takes the form of a small tree.

In 1985 it was certified as a national tea plant variety, and can grow up to 2.8m high with a thick trunk. The spring tea from this bush contains 1.8% amino acids and 28.2% tea polyphenols, marking it as a high-quality base for making white tea.

Tea has been grown in Fujian for centuries, as it has always been important for commercial purposes and trade in ancient China. Originally the process of drying the leaves was followed by a meticulous variation of hot-air drying and sun drying, in order to remove excess water from the leaves; these methods eased the preservation process and helped the tea to sell. The leaves of this naturally-dried tea seemed to appear like the Shouxing’s, the longest-living man in mythology, long curved eyebrow (眉毛, meimao). As a result, people named this tea Shou Mei.