Twinnings Gunpowder Green Tea

When I was first starting out, I was somewhat amused when I came across gunpowder green tea. I wondered to myself, what has green tea got to do with the ammunitions used in the firearms of the 18th century? As you will soon find out in this review article, it is only a nickname given to the tea.

Twinnings green gunpowder tea is a green tea product of the Twinnings tea company. The company has a long celebrated history that dates back 300 years when its founder Thomas Twinning opened its first tea shop in London in 1706. This tea shop still stands today at the same location together with a small museum showcasing the history of the company. Today, Twinning tea experts travel the world tea gardens to specially select the tea leaves that would make the grade for their signature teas.

Gunpowder green tea is classified as a Chinese green tea because it was originally produced in the Zhejiang Province of China. But many varieties are now produced in many other parts of China and other countries of the Orient such as Taiwan and Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka). It was amongst the earliest teas to be exported to Europe from China. It got its English nickname from the way the leaves were rolled into grayish-green small round pellets resembling gunpowder.

When you are steeping them, the pellets unfurl so ever slowly to reveal those leaves which can be quite a delightful sight to watch. Some varieties of gunpowder can give a grassy taste whilst some have a smokey flavor which actually comes from the roasting of the tea leaves.

Twinnings Green Gunpowder Tea Product Features & Description

* Case of six 3.5-ounce tins of loose tea (total of 21 ounces)
* Fragrant blend of rolled gunpowder green tea leaves
* Crisp and fresh with a clear golden color
* Packaged in an attractive, reusable tin
* Light and aromatic blend from the Orient; natural source of antioxidants

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Twinnings Green Gunpowder Tea Reviews

Reviews received for this product are very positive with the majority of the ratings being 5-star. A number of the commentators listed this tea as one of their favorites. One of them mentioned that she had been drinking it for years and another for even more than a decade. In the words of one of them, “I always get sick of drinking other teas after awhile, but I never, ever get tired of this one. I drink it throughout the day–it’s good hot or iced.”

The tea was described as a good tasting tea but not as grassy but rather hints at a smokey taste. One mentioned steeping the pellets in a clear glass to “watch them unroll.”

One important thing where some reviewers are most happy about is the price. With 6 cans in the pack, they feel that the price is right. One felt she’d got an “incredible bargain” because it would cost her more if she were to buy each of the cans individually at her grocers. Another commented about the Amazon Free Super Saver Shipping which “saves me at least $1.00 per tin.”

Some commentators offered a tip that with 6 cans in the pack, they keep a can in the office so that they can drink the tea anytime of the day.

One commented that the product is not certified as organic, otherwise he would have given it 5 stars instead of a 4-star.

What we recommend

If you really must have an organic gunpowder green tea product, perhaps you can look for another alternative on Amazon. Anyway, with several 5 stars ratings received and those wonderful things said about this product, I do feel confident in recommending the Twinnings Green Gunpowder Tea, Loose Leaf. Click here to check it out at Amazon.

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1. Japanese Green Tea – Variety The Spice Of Life

Rishi Tea Organic Jasmine Pearl

Rishi Tea Organic Jasmine Pearl Loose Tea is a premium green tea scented with the essence of fresh jasmine flowers, a product of the reputable Rishi Tea Company. This jasmine pearl green tea won first place in 2008 for being the best grade of jasmine green tea. Rishi Tea which began in 1997 is one of the frontrunners in the area of organic tea. The company obtains its premium tea leaves direct from the organic tea gardens of Asia and packaged them in their own facilities in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Jasmine pearls (sometimes referred to as Dragon Pearls) is an ancient Chinese green tea which dates back to as far as the Song Dynasty in 12th century China. In making this tea, jasmine flowers which bloom in the night are laid overnight together with the tea leaves. This process is repeated over many nights so that the leaves are imbued with the exotic scent of fresh jasmine blossoms. The leaves are then pan fired again and rolled by hand into the shape of a pearl.

The Rishi Tea organic jasmine pearl tea leaves are specially selected by the Rishi team from the organic tea gardens in the Fujian Province in China. Although jasmine green tea is now produced in many other parts of China, according to Wikipedia, those from the Fujian Province have “the best reputation”.

And, when it comes to brewing the jasmine pearls, the pearls unfurl slowly to reveal a brew of light golden color with the refreshing fragrance of jasmine. The beverage is delightfully smooth with a subtle sweet taste. As you continue to savor your cup of jasmine pearl loose leaves, it imparts the therapeutic effect of putting both body and mind at ease. Although you can drink it anytime of the day, the best time is in the evening after a hard day’s work to get yourself into a relaxed mood.

Rishi Tea Organic Jasmine Pearl Loose Tea Product Features and Description

* Pack of 2 (total 6 oz)
* Most sought-after grade of jasmine green tea; gentle body and distinctly sweet jasmine aroma
* Leaves/buds hand rolled into small pearls and scented with jasmine using 900-year-old technique
* Harvested in China’s Fujian province in early spring; USDA-certified organic; kosher-certified
* Selected by Rishi buyers (no middlemen); packaged in Milwaukee, WI

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Rishi Tea Organic Jasmine Pearl Reviews

There are many rave reviews for the Rishi tea organic jasmine pearl. A few of the reviewers who had tried several other jasmine pearls went so far as to say that there was no comparison to the Rishi organic jasmine pearl. In the words of one of the reviewers, “Once you have tried this tea, all other jasmine green teas will pale in comparison.” Many commented that the tea was smooth and sweet with both the rich flavor and fragrance of jasmine. One mentioned that all the flavors were equally balanced. One did found, however, that the jasmine fragrance was too strong for her. Some were pleasantly surprised that the brew had very little of that bitterness and astringency. One gave a tip that when she added a teaspoon of honey to it, it was an “absolute heaven!”

Besides the flavor and taste, a few of the reviewers mentioned that drinking the tea actually made them feel good. One called it her “little secret of bliss in a cup of tea”. Yet another described it as “aromatherapy in a cup” and shared her experience of rinsing her hair with the tea to give it a scent of jasmine.

Despite all the excellent reviews for this product, there is also a downside to it. Most of the reviewers found it to be expensive. But, nevertheless, all of them said that they got their money’s worth. Primarily, because they felt that they were paying for what they expected to be a premium high-end tea. Besides, they commented that it lasted them for some time and the tea was good for 3 infusions.

Interestingly, two of the reviewers mentioned that they had actually tried to find a cheaper alternative and ended buying another brand of jasmine pearls. But they found that other brand to be much less satisfying: one because it was not as smooth as the Richi tea and the other was because the jasmine scent was absent. Both of them got back to buying Rishi once again.

I feel confident in giving the Richi Tea Organic Jasmine Pearl Loose Tea my highest recommendation. Click here to check it out at Amazon.

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1. Gunpowder Green Tea – Twinnings Green Gunpowder Tea

The drinking of Chinese green tea goes a long way back in time. China is the country from which tea originated more than four thousands years ago. Historically, tea had always received the patronage of the Chinese emperors but it was such a prized commodity that it was enjoyed only in the royal households and often used as tributes. Today, tea is easily available in China and it has become such a way of life for the Chinese people that we find them practically drinking tea everyday.

In reading the literature on China green teas, you will find that it is so interwoven with Chinese culture, mythology and folklore. The mythological Chinese dragon (sometimes depicted with a pearl) has always been featured prominently in Chinese culture and legends. And so, you will come across names such as Dragonwell and Dragon Pearls (Jasmine Pearls), for example, befittingly chosen for two of China’s most famous green teas. One legend commonly told was how tea was discovered quite fortuitously by Emperor Shen Nong when leaves of the tea plant fell into his pot of boiling water. If you are interested, you can always search on line and discover even more legends – and more fanciful ones at that – which seem to add to the romance of China green teas. The main purpose of this article is to give an overview of Chinese green teas with a historical backdrop.

Types and variations of Chinese green tea

Although all teas derive from the same Camellia Sinensis tea plant, there are diverse types or variations of Chinese green tea. You will find that some of the variations are indigenous to the locality or region in which they are grown, from different strains of the tea plant. The uniqueness of soil, weather, altitude and the special care paid to the farming and processing make all the difference. Indeed, you may also discover that some of the teas take on the ‘flavor’ of that locality. For example, the Huangshan Mao feng green tea partakes of the flavor of wild flowers and fruits of the Huangshan Mountain.

There are many variations of Chinese green teas which are not even exported out of China. This is especially true when in many villages in China, many of the households have their own tea gardens producing tea probably for their own personal consumption. Nevertheless, today we still get to enjoy several different types of Chinese green teas harvested and processed using methods that had been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times. Imagine drinking an ancient Chinese green tea such as the Lu An Gua Pian which can be traced back beyond a thousand years to the Tang Dynasty.

The flavor of chinese green tea

Chinese green tea is a most delicate tea. Mostly, they are quite mild, giving off a refreshing sweetness which sometimes hints at a subtle floral flavor. At other times, you will get a smokey flavor which comes from the roasting of the tea leaves. As compared to Japanese green tea, you will find that the China greens taste much less grassy and astringent, and the brew is often of a lighter color.

Overall, you will find Chinese green teas most satisfying and yet intriguingly complex. Of course, green teas come in different grades, and the higher the quality, the more infusions you will be able to get out of the tea. For certain types of high quality Chinese green tea, it is not uncommon to get as much as five or even more infusions.

The Human Factor in Chinese green tea

One thing that stands out in Chinese green teas, more so than those produced in any other country, is the human factor involved in the processing of the leaves. In other countries where much of the processing is done by machinery, for the high quality green teas in China, you will find that they are still done by hand, just like several centuries ago. It is only through the human hands that loving care can really be imparted to these delicate Chinese tea leaves.

Right after the picking, from the firing in the wok, rolling of the leaves to sorting them out for their packaging, you will find that human hands are directly at work. In the youtube video below where you can see how a Chinese tea processing master goes about drying the leaves in the wok – using his bare hands, he tosses the leaves, spreading them out and moving them from side to side. But only the master will be able to fully understand the skill and care that goes into the process.

When it comes to rolling the leaves, the master is again at his mettle. With the dexterity and speed of a skilled craftsman, the leaves are rolled into various beautiful shapes. Some are curled and twisted and others are sharply pointed. Yet some others are rounded. The purpose of rolling the tea leaves into shapes is not only for its aesthetic appeal but also to preserve the flavor till it is infused in the cup.

And the Chinese have aptly named their teas by the resemblance to the shapes into which they were rolled. Just to name a few examples. The Chun Mee (Precious Eyebrow) was so named because it was twisted to look like an eyebrow. Gunpowder green tea for its small greyish green round pellet. Yet another example is the spiralled shaped Bi Luo Chun (green snail spring) because it resembles a snail. An exquisite piece of art comes in the form of the Lu Mu Dan (Green Peony Tea) which was made by joining the leaves to look like a peony flower. This is the artistic craftsmanship of Chinese tea rolling at its best.

It is hoped that this overview has given you some introductory information on the green teas of China. You can read up more on some of the most famous Chinese green teas provided in this category. Indeed, there are so many types of Chinese green tea, many a tea connoisseur wonders whether he will get to savor all of them in his lifetime.