1. Home
  2. Tea Connoisseur's Forum
  3. huge differences in white tea?

huge differences in white tea?

I got some Shou Mei white tea from Upton today...and was surprised a bit by what it looked like and smelled like. First, I had read that white tea is the bud and first leaf, and often covered with a silvery down (hence the name). There supposedly isn't any fermentation/oxidation, so the leaves should have a greenish hue, not a brownish one.

This tea I got smelled strongly of a black tea (not altogether unpleasant, but not what I was expecting), had mostly brownish/reddish leaves, and a very few smallish green leaves. The down-covered buds must be really hidden...

There were other grades on Upton's site as well...but they looked completely different. The flowery white pekoe tips and white paklum tips, and white snow buds, look more like the type of tea I've read about. I can imagine they taste quite a bit different from the Shou Mei I have too.

Anyone have any feedback? I'm probably going to send it back, and request one of the others (higher price, but what's the point of drinking tea you don't like)?

Jason

Reply to
Jason in Oakland
Loading thread data ...

Jason,

Shou Mei is the lowest grade, if I might use that word, of a varietal that produces Silver Needle (Yin Zhen) at the top (only buds), White Peony (Pai Mu Tan or Bai Mu Dan) second (a mix of buds and first leaves), and finally Old Man's Eyebrow (Shou Mei, all or nearly all leaf). I've tried Upton's Shou Mei offerings this year. They are *not* impressive, IMO. In Pursuit of Tea has a nice White Peony (Bai Mu Dan) which features more leaf than bud and can be slightly smokey, but also a bit sweet which is nice. The offering from Fragrant Leaf features a higher percentage of bud, and is thus not smokey and is more gentle. I'd stay away from Shou Mei and begin with Bai Mu Dan. Either of these companies will serve you well.

In Pursuit of Tea: Fragrant Leaf

Michael

Jason in OaklandXns95A3A220980D5nospamxxxcom@64.164.98.2911/16/04

18: snipped-for-privacy@xxx.com

Reply to
Michael Plant

Not necessarily. "White tea" refers not to a grade of leaf but to a processing method.

Actually, it's common for white tea to be slightly more oxidized than green tea, since white tea is dried more slowly.

/Lew

Reply to
Lewis Perin

The Shou Mei I get from Funalliance (Longevity Eyebrow King) is very different from what you describe. Mine is almost all bud-and-leaf sets with a few larger leaves and leaf fragments. Very sweet and baky in a sort of cinnamon-toast way. This is my only experience with white tea, but it's a positive one.

Cheers,

Cameron

Reply to
Cameron Lewis

Jason, I can vouch for Bai Mu Dan being a good starting point. I'd even go so far as to say the Bai Mu Dan would be better tasting than Silver Needle for some folks. However, I also think that a sample size of Silver Needle is something everyone needs to try. It has a very unique and delicate flavor.

Steve

Michael Plant wrote:

Reply to
Steve Hay

An excellent green tea I like just as much is called White Monkey. It is two leaf and a bud. Just as expensive as any Silver Needles. This is my favorite green tea because it's taste is more white than green. All Sow Mee I've seen looks like dried lawn leaf from my maple tree. I remember packing the pot for any taste at all. You can't complain about the penny/gram price.

Jim

Reply to
Space Cowboy

DrinksForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.