It’s been too long since my last decent, straight-up gunpowder cuppa tea! I was digging deep into my stash and came across Gunpowder from Oliver & Pluff and knew I HAD to have a cup…PRONTO! You see, it’s been way too long since my last sip of a tea from Olive & Pluff, too! GOSH! What’s wrong with me!? That’s a post for another day and another blog!
In the meantime, here are my thoughts on Gunpowder from Olive & Pluff!
It’s labeled on the package as Gunpowder – tightly rolled green tea. On the website it’s also referred to as Pinhead Gunpowder. And said to be ‘Temple of Heaven’ grade. With a product description of ‘Lightly roasted and tightly rolled green tea. Named due to its similar appearance to actual gunpowder’…it seemed like a pretty standard explanation.
But the flavor profile? They say…it’s a combo of refreshing lemon and light vegetable. An excellent green tea for everyday brewing. Witness the “agony of the tea leaf” as the tightly rolled leaves fitfully unfurl to fully expand in hot water.
I say…I would agree with that claim for the most part. I have to point out that I think the natural lemon notes in this Gunpowder are of the more impressive I have sipped from a Gunpowder. That, I LOVE. I found the vegetable pairing was pretty sturdy, too. I would consider it ‘light’ but more of a 60/40…lemon…vegetable.
What I also love about Olive & Pluff is that you get a little bit of history with their tea. With this one comes the Colonial American History. They state – In 18th century British America, tea was an expensive, exotic import, first popular with more wealthy colonists, then with the middle classes as well. According to mercantile records, various grades of gunpowder tea were a common import to America.
Interesting tidbit of history and lovely cuppa Gunpowder! CHEERS!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Oliver & Puff
Description
Lightly roasted and tightly rolled green tea. Named due to its similar appearance to actual gunpowder.
Notes: Refreshing lemon and light vegetable. An excellent green tea for everyday brewing. Witness the “agony of the tea leaf” as the tightly rolled leaves fitfully unfurl to fully expand in hot water.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Organic Gunpowder / Bare Leaves
Your zest is but that of a fresh summer rain. The astringent label, given to you by sailors, is to be ‘savored’ only in the after taste. Liquid clear and cunning with golden hues so vibrant you would think they dipped the tea in gold.
Your fresh dry leaves, tightly rolled balls of love and affection, show the care your makers had in your processing. Wet leaves dance in the water and open up with beautiful hues of green. With a few over oxidized here and there that make them appear black. Aroma of wet leaves; a bitter scent with hints of earth.
If your nostalgia for summer has peaked to a depressive state, grab a cup of this tea and savor the thoughts of a sunny day with light rain showers.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Bare Leaves
Description:
Organic green tea from China. The leaves of this famous Chinese green tea are hand-rolled into pellets that resemble gunpowder. It produces a bolder flavor than most green teas.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Cherry Almond Gunpowder from 52Teas. . . .
Cherries typically are paired with chocolate which is delicious but I have to say I’m more of a nut kind of gal. So when 52Teas released this Cherry Almond Gunpowder Tea, I was like- take my money now!
Cherry Almond Gunwpoder from 52Teas is a handblended tea with a green tea (gunpowder) base with dried cherries and sunflower seeds added in along with natural flavors. First whiff of this, you definitely come away with this nutty robust aroma.
Brewed with water prepped right under boiling and allowed to brew for 3 minutes, this tea just kept giving off these nutty notes that kept me standing attention by the kitchen timer. I eagerly awaited that beeping noise telling me my tea was ready to go.
After the tea cooled for a few moments, I took my first sip. I have to say this tea is quite dynamic.
Rich strong smoky flavors came across while being entangled with this sweetness from the cherries while the sunflower seeds marvelously round out the nutty tones. I can’t say that I’m getting almond but I’m extremely happy with the flavors I am getting. With the gunpowder tea being the base, this tea has this robustness that brilliantly works against the sweeter tones.
Being the fan of gunpowder teas that I am, I will say I was a bit hesitant about this blend. I wasn’t sure how the cherries would play along side the richness of the green tea, but wow is the flavor profile for this tea just magnificent. . So much so I even emailed 52Teas and asked how much of this tea was in stock because I wanted to purchase whatever they had left.
Sorry to all that didn’t get to try this tea because I bought the rest of what 52Teas had to offer. It was a beauty!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Casey’s .45 Gunpowder Blast from 52Teas. . .
We review a lot of 52Teas here on The SororiTea Sisters but there is a good reason for that. A good chunk of us are big fans of the blends that Anne and company creates and we just can’t get enough. I personally have over 50 different blends from 52Teas in my own tea stash.
There is just something so incredibly intimate with each of the blends that 52Teas creates. Since each blend is hand blended with love and passion, you know you are in for a treat when you take your first sip of any 52Teas blends.
This particular blend is a combination of gunpowder green tea, lemons, and raspberries-basically a play on a raspberry lemonade with a slight smoky taste. Steeped up per the parameters on the pkg- water prepped at 170F and allowed to steep for 2 1/2 minutes and cooled for 5, this tea was an incredible treat.
First you are greeted with this amazing green tea background that has a slight smoky finish. The lemon notes come next and lay the ground work for the raspberries to come into play to create this wonderful lemon berry twist of a finish. With the gunpowder tea that was used as the base, that lemon berry twist was the perfect way to finish each sip. Fresh crisp and on point with each sip as satisfying as the last.
Unfortunately for me, I only picked up a taster of this tea so when I was out of this tea, that was a sad sip down for sure. I didn’t get a chance to check this tea out cold brewed because I just loved the flavors so much brewed hot. I can only imagine how fabulous this tea would be iced with a lemon wedge and possibly even a sprig or two of fresh mint. Fortunately for me, this blend is still available. Looks like I need to make another 52Teas order soon!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea was crafted for one of our VIPs who requested a VIT for a friend’s birthday. She wanted to start with a base of organic gunpowder green tea – check! Then she wanted to add the flavors of raspberry and lemon – check and check!
A fairly straightforward recipe with delightful results! The flavor is a fruity: tart, a little sweet and very bright and refreshing – perfect for summer!
A very limited edition!
taster size is approximately 15g
organic ingredients: green tea, raspberries, lemons and natural flavors
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Boomstick Tea from Geeky Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Geeky Teas
Tea Description:
Sometimes you want to sip tea and contemplate. Sometimes you want tea to kick your backside and get you going. For those times, this is your tea. It’s got muscles.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh Geeky Teas! How I love and adore you!
Geeky Teas is the perfect amount of fandom sprinkled into your tea. I have always said this but there is something so very satisfying about drinking a tea dedicated to your fandom. Just makes you love the tea even more!
This particular tea is based off of Ash, my first love when it comes to my love for horror movies. Bruce Campbell is my favorite actor and the Evil Dead series are among my favorite movies, so of course a tea dedicated to these loves, I would be all over.
This tea is a lovely tightly rolled gunpowder that once you add your water and allow the tea to brew, the teas uncurl and dance in the water providing you with an amazing brew. Brewed up with water at 180F and allowed to steep for about 2 minutes, this tea was just fun to sit and watch.
Finally it was time to try the tea and oh, yes. This tea is exactly how it showed me. Strong, to the point, with that whole mouth feel. This tea really delivers a gorgeous flavor that has a slightly nutty yet slightly smoked flavor that is so satisfying with a touch of astringency coming about. So smooth and well balanced! One of those teas that make you sit back and really indulge yourself in the tea. Or a tea that will get you prepped and ready to take on the day.
I am just loving it and can’t wait to try this tea as a cold brew or an iced tea mixed with some fruit. I bet the flavor combinations will be amazing!
If there was ever a tea to represent my beloved Ash, this would be it!
