Several posts ago I wrote about some basic information regarding Gunpowder Green Tea.
The dry leaves…
Were tightly curled leaf balls that resembled shot pellets and were greyish- olive green in color. If you remember, the small rolled balls took their name- according to common legend – from soldiers’ and sailors’ belief that they resembled their own ammunition’s gunpowder. Their aroma was already coming off smoky- I’m wondering if that smokiness is of things to come.
Brewing…
I used my Simple Brew, loose leaf teapot from Rishi Teas, with 2 grams of tea. I steeped the leaves in 5 ounces of water at 160 degrees Fahrenheit for one minute.
In my cup…
As you know, if you having been reading my blog for a while, green teas are not my preferred go to teas. So, anytime I review a green tea, I must remind myself that I’m presenting you with a wide range of new, different, unusual, or uncommon teas, that perhaps are new to your palate. SO, putting it bluntly and perhaps being overly dramatic –this tea for me is a real labor of love on my part!
That being said…
The aroma of the brewed liquor had an intense aroma of burnt wood, charcoal or cigarette smokiness. It was definitely charred although it lacked the piney smokiness of Lapsang Souchong. The scent also could be equated to a freshly extinguished campfire and to me that is not a warm and cozy aroma! The bold scent had me concerned; I didn’t want my tea tasting like an ashtray! And yes, I was right- it was exceedingly robust, pungent, and indeed VERY smoky. When brewed, it produced a dark-golden liquor, that part I liked though! It had an unpleasant bitter aftertaste that lingered way too long in my mouth. It was roasty, toasty and POW!
This tea had a noticeable and unmistakable smokey flavor and aroma, that wasn’t subtle at all. Its heavy smoky flavor will stick with you. In the long run, a very assertive tea, with a thick, strong and smokey flavor, with a coppery aftertaste. This formidable tea was astringent and slightly bitter, with a thick mouthfeel, but after adding a little sweetener, it became a bit more palatable for me. Gunpowder is one of the strongest green teas in the world and it can become bitter if over-brewed, so be careful and pay close attention to the water temperature and steeping time. I rate this a 1!
Rating Scale
All teas will be rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 for dislike and 5 as love:
- Dislike (I didn’t like the tea and would not repurchase)
- Passable (I didn’t dislike the tea, but I didn’t think it was very good)
- Average (I didn’t find it good or bad and would drink it again)
- Good (I liked it but it and may repurchase)
- Love (I enjoyed it lot and would repurchase)
Next… Hohin
The ABC's of Tea 