Gunpowder

Tea type
Green Tea
Ingredients
Gunpowder Green Tea
Flavors
Tea, Wet Earth, Tobacco, Mint, Smoke, Vegetal, Cannabis, Grass
Sold in
Bulk, Loose Leaf, Tea Bag
Caffeine
Medium
Certification
Not available
Edit tea info Last updated by JulieWyant
Average preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 0 sec 7 g 8 oz / 242 ml

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144 Tasting Notes View all

  • “Yay! My first second steeping of a tea! If I decide to resteep other teas, I’ll probably tack the findings on to the end of the first steep results. But since my last review of Gunpowder was so...” Read full tasting note
    85
  • “Backlogging from last night.. Bad, I know. I wasn’t sure whether to log this under Honeybush Mango or Gunpowder, since I went half and half with the two teas. This is now my new favorite blend. I...” Read full tasting note
    89
  • “I got a sample tin of this tea from Ricky in a trade (thanks man!). Now I’ll start off by saying that the first and only experience I’ve had with gunpowder green tea was rather…regretable. It had...” Read full tasting note
    73
  • “Trying to get rid of this one so I have an empty tin… loved it when I bought it, now I don’t care for it. It’s not bad, I’ve just found other teas I like more.” Read full tasting note
    68

From Adagio Teas

Gunpowder is a classic green tea from Zhejiang province, China. As the name implies, Gunpowder tea is made up of leaves hand-rolled into tiny pellets. These resemble gunpowder, and give this tea its distinct name. Full-bodied cup with a hint of smokiness and a smooth mouthfeel. Blend Gunpowder tea with spearmint to create the famous ‘Moroccan Mint’ tea.

Gunpowder is the world’s oldest known chemical explosive. Made from sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter, it is one of the Four Great Inventions of China, alongside the compass, paper-making, and printing. Though it’s famous for its use in weaponry like guns and cannons—spawning countless movie scenes of exploding barrels or chases to snuff out sparking black lines, it was also used for more constructive purposes like mining and even medicine. Though Gunpowder tea doesn’t carry quite the same explosive punch as its namesake, it is famous for its smokiness and shape, both of which lend themselves to its unique name.

Green Tea | Moderate caffeine | Steep at 180° for 2-3 minutes.

About Adagio Teas View company

Adagio Teas has become one of the most popular destinations for tea online. Its products are available online at www.adagio.com and in many gourmet and health food stores.

144 Tasting Notes

85
187 tasting notes

Yay! My first second steeping of a tea! If I decide to resteep other teas, I’ll probably tack the findings on to the end of the first steep results. But since my last review of Gunpowder was so massive, I think that’d be a bit unwieldy. Unless I decide to split it up all the time. We’ll see.

So, no crazy leaf explosions this time. The leaves did seem to get a bit bigger, though, and look more… leaf-like. Like plants. Which is what they are. I’m still amazed at how much leaf came out of the little rolled pellets. The leaves smelled like spinach this time.

Anyway, the liquid (I know I’m supposed to use “liquor” but that sounds pompous) was around the same color as before, but the taste was completely different. Ridiculously different. It wasn’t like I was drinking the same tea. This steep tasted strongly of Essence of Spinach. If that was even a flavor. It’s like spinach and water infused as one and became a beverage. I don’t really know what to say about that, since spinach is definitely not one of my favorite vegetables. It was interesting, and definitely sippable, but not as enjoyable and complex as the first steep.

I couldn’t detect any of the smoky flavor anymore at all. If anything, it was a faint wisp in the back of my throat. There was a little bit more bittnerness, but nothing out of the ordinary. But what was pretty amazing was the delicious sweetness that became a prominent note and aftertaste. I can still actually taste it now. It tastes like what I always want sugar in my tea to taste like, but it never does. It’s natural and delicious and wonderful. If anything, I kept drinking this second steep for that juicy sugary goodness.

I’m going to try a third steep of this stuff a bit later on. Now it’s more curiosity than wanting to drink it, just because the second steep was radically different than the first.

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 4 min, 0 sec
Cofftea

So now you’re calling me pompous? hehe;) lol j/k.

teaplz

Nah, it’s just not a word I think I’d ever use! Haha, I’m 22, look around 17, am bouncy and peppy in real life. I couldn’t imagine using “liquor” unless I was wearing a monocle and smoking a pipe. :P

takgoti

@teaplz Yes, yes. Quite right, quite right. Do remember to drop by and pick up your tweed jacket – I’ve sewn your leather elbow patches on it for you.

Cofftea

@teaplz shush now- I’m just 2 yrs older than you lol. I like using proper vocab. I think the lack of proper verbage makes people look uneducated. (Not you personally, just as a society in general).

teafiend

@ teaplz Jolly good show! Perhaps I can interest you in a top hat and and a fine cane?
I really don’t see where age plays a role in verbosity, other than the narrow minded guide lines that education system uses.

teaplz

Harrharr. I didn’t mean it as an “age” thing really – that sort of came out wrong. I just meant that it’s such a stuffy word for me. I just could never imagine using “liquor” to describe my tea to my friends. And since I type these logs out in a conversational, intimate tone, I’d never use it on here either. It’s like choosing to call film “cinema.” It’s absolutely correct. But it makes you look unnecessarily pretentious.

And Cofftea, I think you mean verbiage. ;)

Auggy

@teaplz: Off topic but I think you will be happy to know I caved to your peer pressure. I got the sampler. :)

teaplz

notarevolution, I don’t think it’ll ever come naturally to me. I use a ton of “big kid” words in everyday conversation. I’m an English major and an avid reader (I read at least 100 books a year), so I love finding appropriate and quirky words to fit into conversations. But every time I try to type “liquor,” I just end up giggling.

Auggy! YES! YES! YES! You’ve just made me joygasm over here. Awesome! We should have an online tea party and all drink the same tea at the same time. :D

Ricky

I caved in as well. $20 for 31 teas was too good of a deal to pass up. I’m just going to skip out on a few cups of Starbuck’s lattes. Where do they ship from? Apparently my order has been shipped but I couldn’t find a tracking number.

teaplz

Ricky, I believe they ship out from Virginia. In the e-mail that they’ve shipped, there should be a tracking number listed with a UPS link. And YAY!

Cofftea

I’ve eyed the GM sampler forever- I WILL cave. Probably about March. I have a coupon for 130 bags (13 each of 10 types) from stash for $19.99 that expires 3/31. I SHOULD have room for them by now.

takgoti

Wait, what?

They’re in HERNDON? What?! That’s it. I’m organizing a raid.

teafiend

@ takgoti, Raid! Count me in!
I have not succumbed to peer pressure, but I wish I did. Maybe I’ll get the parentals to.

takgoti

@teafiend Word! Herndon’s not too far away from where I am. STORM THE HEADQUARTERS! TEA AND CAKE OR DEATH! TEA AND CAKE OR DEATH!

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89
52 tasting notes

Backlogging from last night.. Bad, I know.

I wasn’t sure whether to log this under Honeybush Mango or Gunpowder, since I went half and half with the two teas. This is now my new favorite blend. I think however, in order to get a better balance, that you should use more of the honeybush mango than the gunpowder. I liked my first blending experiment better, where I used 2 teaspoons of the Mango and 1 of the gunpowder. The veggie taste was still there, but it had an overall sweeter flavor since there was more Mango after all.

Wow. What a week. I don’t know if I’ve just been working too hard or if I’m getting sick, but I’m just exhausted by about 4 pm everyday. Perhaps I just need more sleep. Being a music major is harder than it looks! 4 hours a day just practicing, on top of another 2-3 hours of rehearsal on some days is just killing me. Oh yeah, and 8 AM classes. BOO. Luckily just one more week until spring break.. I can finally relax, sleep in, and even take a shower without shoes on.. you know. The dorm life. Also, perhaps I’ve been listening to too much folk music. It puts me in such a relaxed, tired mood. MORE GUNPOWDER I SAY!

Cofftea

Haha I love how you’re looking forward to taking showers w/o shoes. Awesome.

SoccerMom

Yeah the shoes in the shower thing made me laugh too. I was imaging a pair of ugly crocs LOL.

I ♥ NewYorkCiTEA

Matt, what instruments do you play?

mattscinto

I’m a viola major but I play piano as well. And yes I wish i was kidding about the shower shoes haha

I ♥ NewYorkCiTEA

Nice. Piano, clarinet, and flute here. I don’t play anymore but I did for years. It’s better to take a shower with shoes than to be showing in a dorm shower without them. Ewww!

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73
1908 tasting notes

I got a sample tin of this tea from Ricky in a trade (thanks man!).

Now I’ll start off by saying that the first and only experience I’ve had with gunpowder green tea was rather…regretable. It had a muddy quality to it that I found unplalatable. This tea, however, brewed up nice and clear, turning the water a dark, honey-coloured shade.

The tea has a bit of a smokey, roasted sort of flavour, which I think comes at least partially from the pan-frying method that is used to process Chinese greens. There’s also a grassy quality to it that reminds me of traditional style matcha – although the taste is a bit coarser and astringent.

So all in all, it’s a good tea that’s restored my faith in the ability of gunpowder teas to taste decent. ;)

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 3 min, 0 sec
Cofftea

Yay for renewing your faith in this!=D

mattscinto

I love this gunpowder.. it has a spinachy but almost buttery quality to it

Ricky

Yay for Adagio gunpowder. I agree, this wasn’t a bad gunpowder. I think the only reason I still had so much was that I got tired of it. No more gunpowder for me if I could help it.

sophistre

Maybe I ought to give this one another try. The last time I steeped it I found it dried my mouth out a whole lot, though I didn’t dislike the flavor profile. I still have almost the whole sample left…I suppose it’s time to play with temperatures and steeping times!

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68
323 tasting notes

Trying to get rid of this one so I have an empty tin… loved it when I bought it, now I don’t care for it. It’s not bad, I’ve just found other teas I like more.

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 1 min, 0 sec
Babble

Never been a huge fan of gunpowder, even in morrocan mint. I’ll drink it if it’s available as an iced tea, but I rarely make it on my own.

Michelle

Same here – I can take it or leave it.

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85
98 tasting notes

This is one of my favorit green teas. There is a very small hint of smokiness that is not very noticeable and a nice smooth taste. I would almost say that it tastes very similar to an Oolong tea.

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 2 min, 0 sec
gmathis

I’m a little weird when it comes to green teas, but I tend to like the cheaper Asian grocery off-brand gunpowders as well or better than the pricier ones.

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80
911 tasting notes

I was in the mood for a green, but an energetic tasting green or, since I was having trouble finding that, something new. And this is new! I can’t believe I haven’t tried this yet – teaplz sent it to me a bit ago but it got hidden behind other things and was only recently rediscovered.

Not overly familiar with a variety of Gunpowder teas but the tea smells salty, so I have a little fear. But on my first sip, I’m really nicely surprised. Yes, there is a bit of tingly salt lick taste at the very back but the overall is remarkably sweet. There’s a bit of smoky/toasty taste to it – it reminds me a bit of a boring genmaicha (not my addictive Ryokucha from Samovar, mind you) but a little more… grown up or mature. After Andrews & Dunham’s Caravan, Samovar’s Russian blend and a variety of Lapsang Souchong teas, I don’t know if I would really define this as truly smoky. Just roasty with an edge. Darkly toasted bread, perhaps. Sprinkled with grass sugar (work with me here) and then chased with a light touch from a salt lick.

So yeah, great cup! Very drinkable and enjoyable. A good green that is sturdy, not delicate. I could totally see myself ordering a couple of ounces of this (if only Adagio actually sold teas in 2oz containers…).

Thanks teaplz!

ETA: So I tried a second steep and not all that great. Not horrid but a bit too salt-lick for me. Pretty much the same experience I had with the non-horrific second steep of Rishi’s Jade Fire. There is a hint of that initial sweetness on the very first part of the sip but then it just turns into a big ole liquid salt block. First steep is a keeper, second steep is not worth the water. Dropping the score 1 point cause the second steep makes me grumpy.
4g/8oz

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 3 min, 0 sec
teaplz

Whoo! Glad you enjoyed this one! I really like it as well. It’s an entirely different smoky from a lapsang. It’s gunpowder smoky! But yeah, it’s pretty hearty and nom.

I didn’t like the second steep of this. Tasted like spinach!

Laura

Aha! I’ve had this in my tea drawer for a while now, and I almost made this last night but after much mental debate decided not to. (As this would be my first gunpowder, I was scared off by the spinach comments). But if you two are feeling it, I’ll have to give it a go!

Auggy

teaplz, Yuck on the spinach! Hopefully I won’t get that but I’ll still give a second steep a shot!

Laura, I admit, I had somewhat low expectations but this tea (at least the first steep!) is quite nice!

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77
1812 tasting notes

Gunpowder is one of my personal favourites, for green tea. However I have only ever purchased it from one or two sources, so I was excited to be abe to try it from a company whose gunpowder I had not tried before. Gunpowder is a simple green tea, but sometimes the differences between the same tea from different companies can be quite noticeable.
The dry leaves hold the intense grassiness I have come to associate with most gunpowder greens. After steeping this tea and straining off the leaves, I notice that the steeped leaves have a very dark, almost smoky scent, and I worry that I’ve accidentally heated the water too hot and scalded them. One whiff of the prepared tea banishes that negative thought from my mind, as I am greeted by rolling vegetal tones with a touch of sweet grassiness.
These same aromas swell in the flavour of this tea, and the grassy sweetness permeates all taste buds. The smokiness of this tea is stronger than other gunpowder greens that I have tried, and it is a good addition, in my opinion.
I give this tea a 77 out of 100 on my personal enjoyment scale.

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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89
576 tasting notes

This is one of those teas I enjoy because it’s hard to mess up. I also love the name! As a military and gun buff, it’s fitting. Dry, the leaves remind me of the inside of a Sunny Surplus store. Not sure if anyone will have any idea what I mean…

It’s smoky, but not overkill like Lapsang can be.

I also enjoy this cuppa while playing any game in the Call of Duty series on my beloved xbox 360! :)

I enjoy this version much more than the Stash variety, which was paler in color and blander in flavor. This version has a touch of smokiness and I’m sure would pair great with something minty… A new blend to try! :)

gmathis

I’ve put my own homegrown spearmint leaves in with gunpowder, then iced it. Good stuff!

TeaBrat

I’m starting to get into gunpowder too!

KeenTeaThyme

ooh! That sounds amazing! MUST TRY! I’ll have to grab some sprigs from Mom. Maybe the chocolate mint variety too!

Bonnie

This sounds cool for my 11 year old grandson…tea drinker…into his xbox and military stuff. His cousin died in Afganistan recently (Memory Eternal).

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3294 tasting notes

From the HHTTB
I used to drink a lot of Moroccan Mint, which is a blend of gunpowder & mint (everybody here probably knows that, if not, then now you know!)
It was especially awesome over ice.
This one is a decent gunpowder. Maybe I should go pick some mint from the yard, brew up somemore & ice it down, & enjoy a refreshing bev!

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67
61 tasting notes

I really like this tea! I’m not a huge fan of greens, but this really is very nice. Smooth, and kinda buttery a bit. I’m getting a bit of smokiness at the tail end and a bit of astringency in the corners of my mouth. It has a heavier taste to it than most other greens I’ve had, a bit darker if you would. I feel like this should have a massive caffeine kick, which is exactly what I need.

I just heard something AWESOME. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies will be turned into a movie, starring Natalie Portman! Life will be amaaaaazing. Also! Today was my last day of classes, so I’ll be around and about more often. <3

Carolyn

What temp did you brew it at? I’m having trouble enjoying Gunpowder teas.

teafiend

I brewed it bit lower than I meant to, so around 170.

takgoti

I still haven’t read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I’ve heard too many mixed reviews to dive in yet. I’m guessing you liked it?

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