Temple Of Heaven

Still not qualified to rate this one yet. I brewed up a nice strong cup of this baby today…to mix with rum, lemon juice, and honey. I’m sick sick sick; having caught a cold the Thursday before last, getting the flu last Monday, having my cold worsen this past Thursday, study and take my pediatrics final (Friday night, and Saturday morning respectively), then have the cold get even worse (somehow) last night. So, it was definitely time for a hot toddy today.
My regular 12 oz. cup of tea made with two big teaspoons of this gunpowder,
about an ounce and a half of rum, a squirt of lemon juice (a slice of lemon is best), and a tablespoon of local honey. Yum. Soothes the throat.

I get this at my Asian Market at $5 for 17.5 oz, that said, it is not as bad as the price would lead you to believe. I suppose it is aimed at being sold in such bulk to restaurants and such. I use it primarily for making Kombucha and adding it to Yerbe Mate when I want a bitter twist.

Inside the green box is a little more than a pound of small, rolled green tea leaves, these will expand to 10 or more times their size once steeped, so dont use too many. Dark green, this gunpowder green tea smells very smokey, almost like Lapsang Souchong, though when brewed, the smokey taste is minimal.

On its own it is very versatile, for a floral yet buttery taste brew short, (2 min)it will be a nice yellow with a hint of amber, for the full flavor of this gunpowder green tea, go the full 4 minutes and drink the amber elixer, slightly astringent, yet roasted and buttery as well, I find myself appreciating the bitterness this tea exudes when steeped for longer amounts of time, but know that most tend to avoid that.

This tea is a great staple and still in another league than the cheap bulk boxed green tea, you really cant beat the quantity/quality for this price.

enjoy

Not ready to do a real rating of this one, but did try it today with lunch. I’m still scared of green tea, not totally sure how to approach it, so I jumped in and made a big cup. This was ok, pretty vegetal, though no more so than any other green I’ve had. It wasn’t bad with a spoon of sugar, and it’s definitely something I’ll be drinking as I continue to battle the forces of the cold my whole family has been through. I swear, my tea-drinking and yoga are keeping me in good hands.

I just finished a small bowl of tofu stir fry with rice and wanted to finish the experience with a green tea. Gunpowder has been on my mind recently and I have two boxes of this brand (for some reason) so I might as well give it a try now.

The loose tea consists of dark green small balls with not many but a few stalky bits mixed in (so not great quality but this was only cheap). It didn’t smell of much either other than having a peppery floralness.

Once steeped this tea is dark yellow in colour and has retained it’s un-steeped scent.

In flavour it’s darkly floral with a slight toasted with a little sweetness.
There are also cabbage like vegetal tones which compliment my stir fry rather well.

As far as strength goes gunpowder greens are generally one of the stronger tasting greens and this is no exception. This tea always makes me think it’s an Oolong in disguise.

It’s nice enough for everyday drinking but the quality isn’t great so really you get what you pay for.

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very inexpensive green tea. not the best out there but definitely a very good candidate for a daily drinker!

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Loose
Appearance: dark green gunpowder curls
Aroma when Dry: nondescript
After water is first poured: dusty, sweet (eastern)
At end of first steep: vegital, sweet (eastern)
Tea liquor:
At end of first steep: dusty green
Staple? No, will usually drink type if around
Preferred time of day: any
Taste:
At first: vegital, slightly grassy smooth hints of creaminess
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, with faint creamy buttery notes

Temple of Heaven
China Green Tea
Special Gunpowder
A review of Special Gunpowder China Green Tea by Temple of Heaven

Company: Temple of Heaven
Tea Name: Special Gunpowder
Tea Type/Varietal: green
Region: China
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: cup/ loose leaf
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: light yellow-green
Leaf Characteristics: The tea leaves are tiny, tightly rolled pellets and when infused with hot water the leaves are fuller.

1. Steepings

1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 190 Fahrenheit
Time: 2 minutes

I must admit that I drink plenty of green teas and I should probably consume less green tea perhaps. As I continue with my green tea expedition, it is now Gunpowder Green tea. I take 1 teaspoon of the tea and put this in my cup and adding cold tap water to my cup I then put the cup in the microwave for 2 minutes.

The leaves bunch to the top of the mug and are steaming; I always note that when I microwave teas it is easier to scoop out the leaves since they are all atop / floating with water underneath; so usually one scoop and leaves are removed. Tea’s color is light yellow-green; with no astringency in the smell.

This tea is smoothly refreshing

2nd Steeping:
Water temperature: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 2 minutes

I am able to steep this tea for several infusions and each is as nice as the first. The tea continues to be smooth tasting and clean with a very light body. Overall impression is that it is a smooth tea with a lovely color.

A review of Special Gunpowder China Green Tea by Temple of Heaven

Company: Temple of Heaven
Tea Name: Special Gunpowder China Green Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: Green
Region: Shanghai China
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: cup/ loose leaf
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: light yellow-green
Leaf Characteristics: Tea leaves are tightly rolled pellets and smelling of smoke…roasted scent and when brewed leaves a fuller and smelling of spinach. Actually when brewed they do look like a plate of spinach. The Chinese call these small pellets “Pearl Tea”.

1. Steepings

1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 190 Fahrenheit
Time: 2 minutes

This tea I purchased during my visit to the Living Earth market in Worcester, MA. It was very inexpensive and a gem in a little box. When I opened the box I thought I would find powder tea; I was pleasantly surprised to see it was leaves medium-finely crunched.

I took 1 teaspoon of the leaves and put this in my cup and add the boiled water into my cup. I leave it to steep for several minutes; after sometime, I take the tea and spoon out the leaves; they are somewhat fuller and look like spinach.

The teas’ aroma is that of green veggies and smells mildly astringent; tea’s color is light green with a yellow base and with longer steeps the tea is a golden brown. Tea tastes mild and smooth with a nutty flavor. It only gets bitter when tea leaves are left for longer in the cup as I tend to do; from being lazy in having to remove the tea leaves.

I had read and heard so much of gunpowder tea that it was a treat to finally see it in a store and the pricing was right as well; I did wonder why it was so inexpensive however. It is a good cup of refreshing green tea and I am happy to finally have sampled and purchase it.

I am fortunate this year since I have been able to experience finer teas than before.

What can I say? A solid gunpowder offering. Stands to resteep over and over, you can milk this for 3 pots if you’re frugal. Not unforgiving, it can tolerate being oversteeped or taking too much heat, but naturally becomes a lot grassier. Otherwise it is somewhat bold, and not terribly complex, but as advertised goes well with meals. I’d be interested to try it as an iced tea.

Inexpensive, great little loose leaf tea. I’m surprised how much tea you can buy for only one dollar.
Note to self: There is an expiration date at the bottom of the tea box.

12/6/12 – This tea is still really good. Not my daily drinker. It reminds me of licking a copper penny for some reason. I’m fine with this.

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Not so special, but it does make a nice basc daily green tea. Its lower in cost than other gunpowder green teas with a bit of a smokey flavor, I have used it a few times as an iced tea, not bad. Not my favorite but its good for a basic green. 

I never drink green tea on its own. I always add mint and sugar and make Moroccan tea. It’s delicious and can be served moments after you combine everything.

Great little everyday tea, and a regular to my day. I only add a pinch to a cup of boiling water and watch the leaves unfurl in the bottom. Good flavour but not to strong.

We are setting records for heat, so I have been mixing some iced tea into my day. This has become a favorite. Brew a pot of this including a large sprig of mint, combine in a quart mason jar with ice, a twist of lime, and a little sweetener as desired and my goodness, you have a refreshing and delicious beverage. Goes well with Rat Lunch too, hmm what time is it? I am getting hungry!

Ok friends of the 80’s, like, I had this bummer of a day…totally.
But I had a few minutes between meetings and drove by yet another
Asian Market I have yet to try and Bam! For 99 cents I get 4 ounces of solid
gunpowder green. A dash in my press, steeped a cup or so and man,
the day just got a lot better. As others have noted, this is a bit smokey, a little cloudy, and not the most beautiful color of green you will find, but the taste is rich and full. This is an in your face green that could handle any type of food or seasoning. I am thinking enchiladas…oops sorry, back to the tea. At this price, I will never have to drink bagged green again!

This tea is available where I do my regular food shopping so I occasionally pick it up. As has been remarked upon by other tasters it is an usually strong tea flavorwise so I usually cut the quantity of leaves down by 1/3 or even 1/2. It has a spinachy taste, more the dark green vegetal taste than the bright springy green. It makes a swampy green liquor, reminds one of something Yoda might drink on a cold Dagoba night. It leaves a lot of sediment in the cup, but it’s hulky-green color often hides this sediment until the last sips remain. The flavor changes little when it cools or is cold, so it is a good and thrifty all purpose tea. It is easily made, tolerates wide range of temp. The leaves are broad enough to prepare without filters or mesh or any of those tools. It takes lemon very well, and if you make simple syrups it takes a ginger syrup very well.

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Very suitable as an everyday green tea. Not one you have to stash away for a special occasion. Go ahead and indulge. My humans do. http://is.gd/dR4gz

This is my mainstay tea. I make a thermos of it every day. Sometimes come home at lunch and do a second steep on the leaves with good results (slightly cooler water on second steep – around 170).
Robust, nice astringency. Smokiness without being overpowering.

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