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“Post-workout tea…… This one is interesting. They describe it as a “rock” tea in that it really does kind of look like little rocks instead of little balled up green leaves. I am no expert on...” Read full tasting note
“It’s been awhile since I had this one! SimplyJenW sent me some awhile ago and I just got around to trying it again after I had a sample from thepuriTea. I probably still have that sample...” Read full tasting note
“A nice smoky, herbally green. This really tastes and looks so much like a ginseng oolong! Really rolled up and pebbly—there’s even that herbal ginseng kind of “bite” to it. I love the smokiness in...” Read full tasting note
“Entire sample steeped in 500 ml. of water in the Breville at below parameters. This was a free sample that thePuritea included with my last order. I really liked the smell of this until the...” Read full tasting note
Although most Americans are familiar with the smaller “pinhead” style of Gunpowder Green Tea, there are many larger styles of this distinctive Chinese green. Ours is a “rock”-style tea, which means it has been rolled into the size and shape of pebbles. These densely packed, blue-green leaves have a mossy aroma when dry and release bold, roasty, green aromas as they open over multiple infusions. The brew is surprisingly minty, with some roasty, vegetal and ginseng notes. Its spearmint flavor is very mild and mellow compared to the typical astringent (or even harsh) Gunpowder greens on the market, and its robust, tongue-draping finish makes it perfect for sipping with roasted meats or grilled lamb. Fans of Houjicha green tea, mint lattes or mint-infused water will love this refreshing green tea hot or iced with honey.
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Post-workout tea……
This one is interesting. They describe it as a “rock” tea in that it really does kind of look like little rocks instead of little balled up green leaves. I am no expert on green tea, but I thought this one was interesting (and I had two small samples that thepuriTea sent with my last order so I made a whole pot). I find it slightly vegetal and there is a hint of something minty, and even a hint of ginger at the end of the sip. It is really settling my stomach (you know that pit in the stomach you sometimes get at the end of a workout? Although you can’t really call what I do vigorous by any stretch…..) The stranger thing, on the first steep, I really did not notice the leaves opening much. We will have to see what happens on the second steep. All in all, a fun and different experience…… More later….
It’s been awhile since I had this one! SimplyJenW sent me some awhile ago and I just got around to trying it again after I had a sample from thepuriTea.
I probably still have that sample somewhere…ugh.
I had the first steep earlier, it was very roasty. It almost tasted like a genmaicha. The second steep has that same roastiness, but with a bit of spearmint now.
I definitely remember this being a bit sweeter…but I still like it. I prefer the houjicha/genmaicha type flavor compared to smokiness.
A nice smoky, herbally green.
This really tastes and looks so much like a ginseng oolong! Really rolled up and pebbly—there’s even that herbal ginseng kind of “bite” to it. I love the smokiness in this—very mellow, not astringent at all. Kind of “dusky” and smooth with a hint of mint and sweetness.
thepuriTea’s description of this spot on. I think it’s very good!
Entire sample steeped in 500 ml. of water in the Breville at below parameters.
This was a free sample that thePuritea included with my last order. I really liked the smell of this until the boyfriend mentioned it smelled like hamster food and then that was all I smelled, grrr. Once steeped the smell still lingers, but there is an additional hay-ish note in the taste. This is quite a brothy and savory tea.
It’s not necessarily minty, but its’ after taste is. By that I mean the mouth-cooling you get when you inhale after having mint is there, but the taste of mint is not. I can see why this is the base for Moroccan Mint – it exaggerates the cooling effects of the spearmint.
Honestly, I’m not too much of a fan of the tricks being played on my palate. It probably doesn’t help matters that I’m not the biggest fan of mint, either. It was nice to try, but I won’t be ordering more of it.
I didn’t get any minty flavor on the first steep. It had a lovely veggie flavor to it that I really enjoyed. I shared it with my breakfast buddy to wash the Lipton away. Friend loved it…I love converting people to good tea. I’m enjoying a second steeping now and the minty flavor is coming out to play, making this very refreshing! I might try this iced if I can get a third steep out of it that is.
I still need to try one sample per day! So this was it today. I opened this tea up expecting to find the balled up leaves, but instead, I found coated balled up leaves! They do resemble little rocks in a river. So beautiful and from the look of it, I figured it would be sweet. Anything coated makes me think of sugar! I’ve tried coated oolongs but not gunpowders. Dry, this tea smelled very sweet and herbal and slightly roasted.
Steeped, it was a nice golden honey in color. The scent was strong and sweet again. The taste was nice! It is green and vegetal (but not in the grassy sort of way). The sweetness lingers on my tongue with gentle spices like ginger and ginseng. The sweet aftertaste, however, reminds me of splenda or one of those artificial sugars. I am not a big fan of those.
I am battling a headache right now, so I hope this makes it better and not worse. I will attempt another steep as the leaves have not fully opened. They are still encased in their shells!
EDIT:
I forgot to mention that I really enjoyed hearing the pop and crackle of the rock leaves as they opened up. I did another steep of this and it still maintained great taste. I still am bothered by the splenda aftertaste though.
This has been on my ‘need to review’ list for a while and it would make a good comparison steep against my previous review which was also a Gunpowder Green.
In appearance this looks similar to a Lan Gui Ren rather than Gunpowder Green. The grainy rock style effect is not a type I have seen before with Gunpowder Green. Scent is sweet, floral and grassy. Has an earthy tone however but it’s hard to define.
For the sake of comparison I will use the same steeping parameters as my previous Gunpowder Green which was taken from Teavivre.
Water : 3oz / 85ml 203℉ / 95℃
Use 7 Grams Tea
6 steeps : rinse,10s,25s,40s,50s,70s,90s
Gaiwan
Rinsing time is around 3 seconds
First Steep – 10 seconds
Light green liquid with a a subtle sweet, floral scent. Flavour is gentle and floral with a sweet after taste.
Second Steep – 25 seconds
I can taste something sweet and refreshing…is that ginseng? Is this Gunpowder Green with ginseng? If not it is a very good imitation. Very sweet and lingering in the after taste.
Third Steep – 40 seconds
Strongly ginseng/mint like still. No astringency at all. Very sweet with hints of smoke.
Fourth Steep – 50 seconds
Toasty, honeyed, highly ginseng and sweet. My mouth is wonderfully perfumed with this sweet lingering smoky flavour.
Fifth Steep – 70 seconds
Milder but still ginseng heavy.Not mint so much now as maybe clove, same refreshing feel. Also grassy.
Sixth Steep – 90 seconds
Very light in strength of the green tea but the ginseng remains thick and heavy. Toasty and super sweet.
This was unlike any other Gunpowder Green I have ever tried, it tasted and looked exactly like Ginseng Oolong which I like but need to be in the right mood for. Now I’m just highly confused, is this a mixed blend? Or was the ginseng flavour just a coincidence? Either way it was enjoyable and my husband agrees.
I agree that this tea is “surprisingly minty.” After drinking it, I get that coolness in my mouth that you get after eating mints. Other than that, though, this tea didn’t taste like much. A little sweet, with a roasted aroma that I can’t really find in the taste. I’ve tried brewing it all different kinds of ways with different amounts of leaf, but I can’t get it any stronger. It’s not bad, but I wouldn’t buy more of it.
