This tea is picked from wild tea trees, but these aged leaves still have a feisty energy. The brew is a rich honey color, foretelling the sweet flavor and flowery aroma.
This type of white tea is called shou mei - ‘longevity eyebrow’ - referring to the shape of the leaves. While many teas focus on the bud and first two leaves on each stem, shou mei uses the 3rd, 4th and 5th leaf, which are older and longer. They are reminiscent of the eyebrows of elder sages in classical illustrations.
Longevity can also refer to the aging process of the tea. It is said of white tea: 'one year - tea, three years - medicine, seven years - treasure'. You can treasure this 12 year old (and counting) tea for a long time to come.
Yet another form of the longevity of this tea is the way its character and its energy linger over many brews.
Wild White Longevity
Brewing Elements
(See 'Brewing Guide' for explanation of the Four Elements of Brewing Tea)
Leaf: 3g (1-2 Tablespoons) for a small pot, 6-8g (3-4 Tablespoons) for a medium pot
Water: 90c / 194f
Time: 1-2 minutes
'Wake up the Leaves' before your first brew: add enough boiling water to cover the leaves, then discard. This tea can be brewed many times.
Servings
This tea is difficult to measure with a teaspoon, please see the photos for reference of 5 grams. This tea can be brewed many times. Note how the experience of the tea develops over each brew!Details
Size: 50 grams (1.8 oz)
Type: White Tea
Origin: Fujian, China
Character: Honey-sweet, Minty/Cooling, Flowery
