Temple Of Heaven

TTB 10

I am enjoying this greenpowder green although it is almost ascetically basic. I also must have slightly oversteeped it, which makes it taste slightly roastier than it normally would. It’s very grassy too – I’m guessing it’s supposed to be. I still don’t have as much experience with green tea as I would like to have.

All in all, an okay, decent simple green. Not anything crazy or overtly crave-able, but just fine.

I used a scoop of leaf with add-ons I grew – a couple whole leaves of lemon verbena, 1 tsp chocolate mint, and 1/8 tsp dried stevia. The mint is old stock (2 years old maybe – I was too lazy to go find the fresh stuff in the other room) but this pretty much tastes like mint. I should use way less next time. I sort of taste verbena maybe. Last time I used verbena it overtook the cup. I can’t taste the tea at all. The stevia I cannot get the hang of as even dried I seem to not be using enough to add any sweetness. If I touch the leaf to my tongue it is like licking a pink packet of death, so I don’t know why I can’t sweeten with it.

My point is respect to those of you who create the wonderful blends we enjoy. It is way harder to get right than it sounds.

I swear the last time I had this (years ago) it was very smoky. This is more roasted and kind of reminds me of a mild genmaicha. Very cheap. I paid $2 for 4 ounces. Others said I overpaid as they got it for $1. Way better than the price would suggest. Halfway through the cup I iced it – made a very refreshing iced tea.

I had a hard time finding this one because I kept thinking it was “Tower of Heaven” ….because I’m obviously a sucker for pixels and chiptune (honestly, though, I can’t get through the first panel of that game, I’m so bad at it).

I think I need to get myself used to gunpowders, because all of the ones I’ve tried haven’t been quite what I was expecting. I got this at the local Asian market (hahaha not going there anymore because the owner’s wife always pressures me to get married to my weird colleagues that she knows and now I’m scared that she’ll actually try to set me up), which has a really nice collection of East Asian teas. However, besides Numi’s gunpowder, I can’t seem to find any others in town…

Right out of the box, the dry smell reminds me of a county fair in Idaho. I mean, the whole bit — cows and hay and horses and alfalfa and goats and Idahoans. It’s a bit off-putting, I concede, but it’s also kind of nostalgic. Once brewed, it’s strong and spinachy — and while I don’t mind the spinach, I think I may be brewing it a bit too strong. It looks like the other reviews suggest fewer leaves per cup, so I’m going to try that and see how it goes.

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.

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 bought this tea in my local grocery store for $0.99/100g. Yep, really that cheap. So how does it taste for the price?

In my opinion, pretty darn good. I wouldn’t say it’s THE BEST green tea I’ve had, because it’s certainly not. It has a bit of a bitter after-taste no matter how long you steep it, and has a bit of strange colour after steeping. It has a bit of a “mouthy” feel while drinking that’s hard to describe. But for 99 cents? You can’t beat it.

I like to mix this tea with some dried fruit (or even fruit-based teas) to give it a bit of a flavour-kick. Dried apple and mango are especially good. The smoky flavour of the tea is nicely balanced by the sweetness of the fruit. I don’t put sweetner in it whether it’s straight or mixed with fruit.

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.

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

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.

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”.

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.

11/5/13 – I finished up this tea today. This tea stayed fresh for a year. This one will be purchased again since it is easy and find, and tasty. Goodbye copper penny tasting tea, bye-bye for now.

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!