2021 Chen Pi Shou Mei White Tea Biscuit

This unique white tea originates from Panxi Town, one of Fuding’s most renowned micro-regions, celebrated for its high-quality white tea production. Harvested in April 2021 from the Fuding Da Hao cultivar, the tea was picked using the one bud, three leaves standard—offering a harmonious balance of tender buds and mature leaves. After harvest, the leaves were naturally withered and stored as loose leaf under dry conditions, allowing them to gradually age and develop deeper character.

In August 2024, the tea was blended with slices of 2019-aged chen pi (dried tangerine peel) from Xinhui, a region famed for producing top-grade chen pi, prized both in Traditional Chinese Medicine and for its aromatic complexity. The blend was then compressed into ~5g biscuit-shaped pieces, a convenient format that preserves aging potential while offering ease of use for daily brewing.

Shou Mei (寿眉), meaning “Longevity Eyebrow,” is named after the curled shape of its mature leaves, which resemble the brows of a wise elder. Ranking below Silver Needle and White Peony in picking grade, Shou Mei is composed of naturally withered tips, leaves, and stems. Though coarser in appearance, it offers a more robust, sweet, and layered flavor, especially suitable for aging. The addition of chen pi enhances the tea with a gentle citrusy lift, creating a cup that is both grounding and bright.