Review: Temple of Heaven Gunpowder Tea

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The Subject: Temple of Heaven Gunpowder Tea from a local Asian market.


Rating:

Water temperature: 160˚ F

Steeping time: 2 minutes (see comments)

Tea type: Green
Scents, flavorings, etc.: N/A
Aroma, dry: Fresh, planty, slightly sweet
Aroma in the cup, plain: Hint of smokiness, planty
Taste, plain: No bitterness at first, slightly smoky
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: About equal to 1st
3rd Infusion: Didn’t do (see comments)

Chilled: Smoky, not bitter, slightly cloudy

Comments:

There were no steeping instructions on the tea container. As was the case with the Tung Ting Oolong, I think the tea company assumes that their customers usually already know how to properly prepare the tea or are smart enough to figure it out for themselves. We went by the general steeping directions we have seen for Green teas.

We recommend steeping for 2 minutes, instead of 3, for each infusion. This will mean a lighter colored and tasting tea liquid but more infusions. We steeped for 2½ minutes per infusion and stopped at two infusions. The first infusion was smooth and not bitter when hot. It developed a slight bitterness as it cooled, though. The taste and liquid color of the 2nd infusion were lighter, but still good. With shorter steeping times, I’m sure we’d get a 3rd and possibly a 4th and 5th infusion.

Some tea leaves dry and some after 2 infusions:

It’s always amazing how those small pieces swell up so big. Keep this in mind when deciding how much dry tea to put in the teapot.

We regard this as an everyday green tea, just as Genmaicha is in Japan. Enjoy it whenever you need a nice cuppa and want a change from black tea. You can also drink it for health benefits. The flavor will make it simple to “take your medicine.”

The chilled version was more smoky tasting than the hot version. It’s not bitter, though, and tastes good straight, but you might want a touch of sweetener. The taste is not typical for a chilled tea, but it’s worth a try.

Disclaimer: We bought this tea from a local store. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are always strictly objective.