Shou mei tea is a type of Chinese white tea that is made from the leaves of the tea plant Camellia sinensis. It is a relatively young tea, as it was only officially recognized as a distinct tea variety in the early 20th century. Shou mei tea is made from older tea leaves that are harvested later in the season, after the young, tender leaves used to make other types of tea have already been picked. As a result, the leaves used to make shou mei tea are larger and more mature, which gives the tea a slightly different flavor and aroma than other white teas.