Shou Mei Honey Poached Pears
Pears gently poached in a fragrant Shou Mei and honey syrup—a light, elegant dessert where the white tea's fruity, honeyed notes shine.
This delicate dessert leans into everything Shou Mei does best. The white tea's honeyed, fruity character infuses the poaching syrup, perfuming the pears with soft notes of orchard fruit and gentle wood as they slowly turn tender and translucent.
Because Shou Mei is naturally mellow and low in caffeine, this dessert is light and soothing—perfect for finishing a meal without anything too heavy or rich. The honey amplifies the tea's own sweetness rather than masking it.
Choose firm, slightly underripe pears so they hold their shape during poaching. As they cook, they drink in the tea-honey syrup, taking on a beautiful amber blush and a fragrance that fills the kitchen.
Serve the pears warm or chilled, spooned with a little reduced syrup and, if you like, a small scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of lightly sweetened yogurt. A cup of Shou Mei alongside completes the gentle, comforting note.
Ingredients
- 4 firm pears, peeled with stems intact
- 3 cups brewed Shou Mei tea (2 tbsp loose leaf in 3 cups water)
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 strip lemon peel
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 thin slices fresh ginger
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
How to make it
- 1Brew the Shou Mei and steep 4–5 minutes, then strain into a saucepan just wide enough to hold the pears upright.
- 2Add honey, sugar, lemon peel, cinnamon, and ginger to the tea. Warm gently, stirring until the honey and sugar dissolve.
- 3Stand the peeled pears in the syrup. Bring to a gentle simmer, then lower the heat so the liquid barely bubbles.
- 4Poach the pears, turning occasionally and spooning syrup over them, for 20–25 minutes until tender when pierced with a knife.
- 5Lift out the pears. Stir vanilla into the syrup and simmer until slightly reduced and glossy.
- 6Serve the pears warm or chilled with a spoonful of the Shou Mei honey syrup poured over the top.
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