What is Shou Mei White Tea and What are the health benefits?

Want to know more about shou mei white tea? Well, you’ve come to the right place because in this blog we’re going to take you on a journey of discovery. We’re going to look at what shou mei white tea is and what the health benefits are. We are also going to look at how to use shou mei white tea as a healthier alternative to coffee.

What is Shou Mei White Tea?

Shou mei white tea is a variety of white tea, which is made from the large-leafed Camellia sinensis plant. White teas are not fermented, leaving them with higher concentrations of polyphenols and other antioxidants than green teas. Shou Mei is harvested in late spring when it has grown its third leaf set.

How is Shou Mei White Tea Made?

Shou mei white tea is made in a two-step process. The leaves are picked when the third leaf set has fully developed, then they are pan-fried to remove any extra moisture before being dried and packaged.

The health benefits of Shou Mei White Tea

There have been many studies on white teas and their health benefits. This is because the polyphenols in white teas are even higher than those found in green teas. There are numerous evidence-based studies that show that these polyphenols aid weight loss, protect against radiation damage, and lower cholesterol levels. The number of anti-oxidants in white teas is also higher than other popular teas, which means that you get more out of drinking white tea rather than green.

Shou Mei White Tea vs Coffee

Shou mei white tea has the same amount of caffeine as black tea, so it is a healthier alternative to coffee. The caffeine in coffee inhibits adenosine receptors in the brain, which increases the levels of dopamine in your system. This can lead to cravings for sugary foods, which is why many people find they are hungrier when drinking coffee. Shou mei white tea has lower caffeine content than black or green tea, so it will give you more energy without the caffeine crashes associated with coffee.

Shou Mei White Tea Recipes

If you are looking for some new shou mei white tea recipes to make at home, there are plenty of options out there. You can use it hot or cold, so why not try our delicious mango green tea infusions for a tasty summer drink? Shou Mei White tea is also perfect to use in desserts,  so why not try our white tea chocolate mousse recipe? Or perhaps you are looking for something a little more indulgent, so why not try our triple white chocolate cheesecake treat?

How to brew Shou Mei White Tea?

Although white peony tea has long been a famous Chinese tea, it is still less popular than other varieties. That's because the preparation process of white peony tea is more complicated and time-consuming. The following article will show you how to brew a good cup of Shou Mei White Tea.

Shou mei tea should be prepared with water at 80-85 degrees Celsius. Start the preparation by putting the tea leaves into a teapot or pitcher. Then pour hot water into it and keep on pouring until all the leaves are soaked in hot water.

This is done to release some of the flavors of Shou mei white tea that may not be released if the leaves are put directly into a cup.

Pour away the hot water and pour more 80-85 degrees Celsius hot water into the pitcher or teapot until it is about one-third full. Then you should pour the tea from the teapot into a cup, making sure that all of the leaves stay back in the teapot.

Then you can serve the tea by pouring hot water onto the leaves until the teapot is one-half full, before serving. If tea is left in contact with water for too long, it will start to become bitter and lose its flavor quickly. It should be noted that some of the Shou Mei White Tea flavonoids are soluble in water, but some are not. For this reason, it is advised to drink the tea as soon as possible after brewing.

White Teas vs Green Teas

If you are wondering what the difference between green teas and white teas is, well this helpful video breaks it down for you.

White teas are harvested towards the end of spring and have grown three sets of leaves whereas green tea is harvested in summer and only has one set of leaves. Also, white teas are not fermented so they retain high concentrations of antioxidants which give you health benefits - making them a healthier alternative to coffee.

White tea is also much lower in caffeine than many other teas, so it will give you more energy without the caffeine crashes associated with coffee.

For more white tea recipes why not try out our white tea chocolate mousse or triple white chocolate cheesecake recipes?

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