Gunpowder

Mixed results with this one this m— errr, afternoon, but I think that most of that is on me, rather than on the tea. It’s very cold this morning. Something smoky and hot to sip while I chowed down on an empanada left over from yesterday seemed like the ticket. I thought this would be perfect.

First cup was pretty good, too, save for the fact that the empanada I had just finished seemed to be more moist than the cup of tea. I don’t know why it dried my mouth out the way it did. Maybe it just felt that way because I was still involved in that long, slow climb to proper consciousness for the day and what I really wanted was something juicy to hydrate me, but there you have it. The smoky flavor, at least, was good, and I had no trouble enjoying the background fullness of the green tea’s ‘saute this green stuff with some butter’ flavor.

The second steep…

Not so good. I probably won’t even finish it. Something about the smoke note lessening has reduced it from a rich smoke flavor to the suggestion of cigars. I’m not certain whether this is problematic for all time or just the mental result of having read the disappointing results of Teaplz’s first go at a Lapsang Souchong (and the suggestion of ashes in a cup, gross), so I’m going to rate it based on the first cup rather than the second, and just try it again another day. The dryness is unfortunate. I think I like the chewy, buttery, savory greens better, but can see myself opting for at least the first steep of this from time to time.

Decent tea, the smokiness can be good by itself, but I think it needs to be mixed with something else.

This is growing on me.

It just tastes so GOOD. The cups of green tea that I made prior to discovering Adagio’s Gunpowder always required a tiny amount of sugar to be bearable. This one does not.

There’s something about that smokey quality, plus a decent amount of caffeine (which then lends itself to productivity) and a cool winter day that’s just so right.

I’m starting to notice more of a somewhat fruity aftertaste that mixes with the astringency. That’s probably a contradiction, but merh.

Yum.

Harumph. I made a pot of this tea in my little iron kyusu this morning, sat down to wait for it to steep, and promptly got distracted. After I got up to put the clothes in the dryer, I only then remembered. Whooops.

I don’t think I put enough into the steeping basket to make a decent pot of tea though – it tastes like smokey water. I might just dump this and make a pot of something else. :(

Yeah, grassy and a tad smoky. Can steep a 2nd and 3rd time. It doesn’t compare to green tea made with younger, more tender leaves. I think of gunpowder as the basic green tea, rather mundane, but this is better than some I’ve had.

This is my first Gunpowder, and I only had to open up the tin to see where it got its name — the little, rolled balls are a fun departure from the leaves of many other greens. The scent of the leaves is grassy and smoky, and maybe a bit “humid,” like the grass has sat in your dumpster for too long waiting to be picked up in the summer. But it’s not a gross smell like that.

The liquor smells smoky, but not as grassy as the leaves did. The taste is still smoky and a bit tannic. I’m not a huge fan of smokiness, like when people add liquid smoke to stuff, but this one tastes natural and I feel like it is balanced well with grassiness and bitterness of the tea. Not my favorite green, but I still like it.

I’ve been down on most green teas lately, but this one remains an exception. A nice golden color with a subtle, earthy finish.

You know, I just now realized I’ve never tried this tea straight. I’ve always added a scoop of Adagio Spearmint. Which is what I did this time, so that is part of the review. Maybe next time I’m in the mood I’ll finally try it straight just for comparison’s sake.

Anyway, the Gunpowder mixed with the Spearmint. Slightly smoky, pretty minty. It’s so much better prepared with fresh mint, but that’s not something I’m likely to have at my office. What can I say? It’s decent but basic, which is great when that’s what I’m in the mood for.

Every time I drink this tea I can’t help but imagine two wooden ships blowing each other to smithereens with cannon fire. Gunpowder. Yes!

As someone who prefers more full bodied greens I have gone through a lot of this, and it remains a favorite every day cuppa. Malty fried vegetables with a hint of smoke, and just the right amount of bitterness for a green – comforting and invigorating at the same time. Most enjoyable, fairly low maintenance and consistently good.