I found out today that gunpowder green teas are called “gunpowder” because they’re a little smoky — not because they’re going to violently pop open when they unfurl. Which is sort of disappointing, because I wanted to watch some sort of mayhem in my steeper this morning.
I also found out, while locating this tea on the Tea Spot’s site, that gunpowder tea is “commonly used by athletes to improve endurance over periods of 3-6 hours.”
Well, then, this tea has found its audience, because I am a HUGE ATHLETE. Like, super-beefy. I spend upwards of 8 hours a day hitting “file, print” on my computer. Gotta keep my PRINT ARM strong. Then, at the end of ALL THAT, I go to my local Planet Fitness and halfheartedly put forth about 20-30 minutes on the elliptical. Sometimes. About twice a week.
But there I go, talking about being SUCH A JOCK ALL THE TIME. This is about the tea.
Visuals: This tea comes in cute little pellets. I pity the person that has to sit there and twist them, but the effect is awesome. This tea is a wonderful unfurler. It bounces open in a really satisfying way.
Flavor: This taste profile is just like the movie Fern Gully: the Last Rainforest. It tastes like rich chlorophyll, like sun distilled across leaves, thriving, growing.
I used to think that “vegetal” was a bad word. Veggies are the thing you have to be FORCED to eat, right? What person innately comes out of the womb wanting greens?
But I’ve come around. I like brussels sprouts and broccoli. I’ll throw greenery on my plate on purpose. It’s not sweet, but it’s healthy, and it’s RIGHT, somehow.
This tea is totally right like veggies belong on the plate now for me. It’s the balance of the feminine green-ness with the faint masculine smokiness. It is yin, it is yang.
I feel like I’d be drinking this in a zen garden in the middle of a forest before teaching my Young Grasshopper calligraphy and battle skills. I have no battle skills in real life, but this tea makes me think that maybe I could develop them.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: The Tea Spot
Description
The leaves of this green tea are rolled into the shape of little pinhead pellets resembling gunpowder, hence its name. Gunpowder green tea tastes bold & lightly smoky, also lending to its name. Gunpowder tea leaves stay fresh longer than any other green tea leaves due to its compressed form. Gunpowder green is higher in caffeine than most other green teas (35-40 mg/8 oz serving) and is commonly used by athletes to improve endurance over periods of 3-6 hours.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
