How to distinguish Gongmei and Shoumei?

How to distinguish Gongmei and Shoumei?

Among the white teas, Gongmei and Shoumei are more difficult to distinguish. Some people say they are the same tea, while others say they are not. In fact, Gongmei is an independent category of white tea, and is not produced by the same tea tree as Shoumei, Yinzhen, Peony, etc.

The difference between tea tree varieties

Gongmei uses the tea tree varieties of Fuding’s local Xiaocaicha (local tea). The white tea produced is collectively called Gongmei.

Shou Mei uses tea tree varieties picked from Fu Da White Tea and Fu Da Hao Tea. The Fu Ding White Tea produced is divided into three categories according to grade and picking time: Silver Needle, Peony and Shoumei.

Differences in cultivation methods

Gongmeicai tea is a local tea tree variety with a long history in Fuding. It is a sexual variety and is grown by sowing seeds.

Shoumei Fuding Dabai Tea and Fuding Dahao Tea are both artificially cultivated varieties and are cultivated by cuttings.

Differences in cultivation methods

In the beginning, Gongmei Chun began to pick raw materials with one bud and two or three leaves or three or four leaves. Some are fresh and some are rough.

After Shoumei picks silver needles and white peonies, one bud with three, four, five leaves or thick old tea is made as raw materials. The picking time is usually before spring, and the leaves are large and thick.

The difference between soup color and taste

Gongmei soup color: light orange-yellow; aroma: fresh and pure, with melon and fruit aroma; taste: rich, mellow and sweet, leaving a fragrant mouthfeel. Long-lasting sweetness: Later transformation: the unique aroma of vegetable tea such as honey rhyme and rice fragrance will appear.

Shou Mei Soup color: light orange or orange; aroma: pure with a slight fragrance, leaning towards the aroma of flowers and dates; taste: mellow, mellow, long-lasting sweetness, and more resistant to soaking; later transformation: dates will appear Fragrant, medicinal.