Gunpowder "Temple of Heaven" Green Tea

I forgot to mention that I used 1 teaspoon per 6 ounces of water. Cathy Weeks

Gunpowder tends to be a lot harsher than most greens.

That's hotter and longer than I normally brew any green.

Why don't you try 160F, or even 140?

With greens, I do too, although gunpowder might need some time for the leaves to swell.

/Lew

Gunpowder is one of the most difficult teas to get right. First off understand that it's a very strong green tea. Second, it's less about the time brewing, and more about the amount brewed. Use too much and it will taste horrible. Use only about a half a teaspoon for 6 oz, if that. Brew it fairly hot but only for maybe 2 minutes.

When you talk about not using too much, I wonder if it's just a matter of Gunpowder being rolled so tight that it's much denser than "normal" greens. How much does a half teaspoon of G weigh?

/Lew

temple of heaven is tough to get right. luckily, if i remember right, it comes in a fairly huge box, so you get enough to play with....p*

I have yet to try my sample of ToH Gunpowder from Upton - was planning on doing it tomorrow & will report back. FWIW, I usually start with 8 oz of water simply because I've learned that my personal taste can't handle the standard 6 oz. and it's easier than using less tea.

Yes it's definitely that, and it's also that the tea is natually strong. I don't know how much half a teaspoon weighs.. I don't usually do weight,.. I just find the amount that's right for me. But yes I would assume that half a teaspoon could be the equivalent of a full teaspoon or maybe if it's a good gunpowder even a teaspoon and a half of "normal" non-rolled-leaf greens.

"Cathy Weeks" ???????: snipped-for-privacy@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...

Cathy,

That tea is, as our farmer's opinion, quite similar to green pu-erh; and green pu-erh is a VERY STRONG green tea. Since it's such famous and economical, I bought one box for test. After 2 experiments, I just threw the box to a corner of my tea cabinet. If you still want to try it, one way is reducing the dry leaf amount. The next way is making it as an Moroccan Tea--serve it cold and with honey (or just sugar) and mint. Here is a link of recipe:

Further suggestion: Try it in summer. Either green pu-erh or cold tea are both good for your body in summer, not winter. Even this rule is only generally, not definitely for everyone; don't wait until your body finally tell you the answer. Have nice tea journey!

Avon

My sample is of Upton's ZG30 Special Grade ToH which recommends 1 tsp in 6 oz at 180F for 2-3/4 to 3 min. but that didn't work for me and it took a whole lot more fiddling than the gunpowder that's sold by a local shop.

Starting with 1 tsp. in 8 oz at 180F anywhere along the range of 2-3 min. tasted bad. The sweetness of it could be detected but was quickly overpowered by bitterness.

1/2 tsp. in 8 oz at 180F for 2-3/4 min. is much better. It has a lot more sweetness with only the faintest hint of bitterness. Reducing the time to 2-1/2 minutes only made it taste weaker.

1/4 tsp. in 6 oz at 170F for 2-3/4 min. had better flavor but was way too weak.

3/8 tsp. in 8 oz at 180F for 2 min. 40 sec. gave me the best flavor of all. It's not as smooth as the ZG34 Special Grade Pearl #1 Gunpowder which is sweeter and has better flavor so, I don't plan to reorder the ToH.

HTH. Of course, it's all JMO and YMMV, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it :P.

"Bluesea" wrote

Interesting, Bluesea, my reaction was just the reverse - I liked the ZG30 Special Grade Temple of Heaven better than the ZG34 (which is called "Jade Pearl Gunpowder" by Upton - is that what you meant?). I used probably

3/4 tsp per 6 oz. water and didn't have any problems with it, but I will try smaller leaf amounts per your experience. As you point out, YMMV.

-- Randy (if replying by e-mail, remove SPAMFREE and DeLeTe from my address)

Yes-yes, it's "Jade Pearl Gunpowder" on their website and in catalog. Sorry - I was looking at the packet label when I typed and it says what I put.

The mailman brought me another order about 1/2 hr ago which has more gunpowder samples. I'm trying to find the ONE that will be my standard must-keep-on-hand so might be gunned out before the weekend's done - LOL.

I've found reducing the temp to around160 -165 helps keep the bitterness at bay. With the first cup I usually brew until the leaves start to open up. Probably around 3minutes. 1/2 -1 tsp.

Blues

Have you tried the TC79 "Elpitiya Estate Gunpowder GP1 Wilson Select" yet? I have a sample of that on it's way along with my "regular" stuff. I'm always intrigued by non-Oriental greens because there are so few of them, so I'm anxious to give this a try.

-- Randy (if replying by e-mail, remove SPAMFREE and DeLeTe from my address)

No, I saw it but had the season limit of 8 samples with four gunpowders, and the Assam, Ceylon, English Breakfast, and Kenya of their decafs so will have to get it next time. If I practice self-control and deny all urges for instant gratification (heh!), my next order will be after Dec. 23 when the limit is lifted. Please let us know how it works out for you.

Thanks, that supports the 170F trial that I did which needed more leaf. What surprised me is how unforgiving ToH is. The Jade Pearl is very forgiving and doesn't turn out an undrinkable cup at most of the variances. Some just taste better than the others. OTOH, I tossed many of the ToH brews because I couldn't stand to drink them. I tried mixing the strong and the weak together thinking they would balance out, but that dog didn't hunt.

"Until the leaves start to open up." Taking a wild guess here - I almost never drink Gunpowder - the unfurling of the leaves is what might make brewing GP problematic. Seems to me it might be worth trying a trick from the gongfu brewing of tightly rolled oolongs. Why not do a quick rinse with hot water, discard the liquid, wait a couple of minutes for the leaves to swell, and then start brewing the leaves like a "normal" green? That, for me, would mean shorter and cooler steeps than people have been mostly talking about in this thread so far.

/Lew

Gongfu kinda reminds me of do-it-yourself decaffeinating >:o.

Actually, I'm thinking that it's just ToH that's problematic because last year I bought gunpowder from a local shop and didn't have to do all these tests to get a good brew. Same with the other two samples I got from Upton, the ZG20 First Grade Gunpowder and the ZG34 Jade Pearl Gunpowder - just a coupla times and Wham! I'm ready to rock 'n roll.

I might, however, sing a different song after I try the four GP samples that the mailman delivered yesterday.

Will do - should be within a week. Also interested in your reactions to what you are getting ...

-- Randy (if replying by e-mail, remove SPAMFREE and DeLeTe from my address)

Okie-doke. I already tried all but the four new gunpowders, but must do those later. Right now, I gotta make myself a cuppa and watch "The Bourne Supremacy."