Country of Origin: China
Region: Zhejiang Province
Shipping Port: Shanghai
Grade: Superior #1
Altitude: 1500 – 3000 feet above sea level
Manufacture Type: Pan fired and hand twisted.
Cup Characteristics: Surprising body and captivating green tea taste with a hint of oakiness.
Infusion: Tending dark green
Ingredients: Green tea
Information:
Gunpowder, the substance used to fire bullets out of a gun-barrel is one
of the four great inventions of ancient China. (The other three are the
compass, paper, and an Asian version of the printing press). Gunpowder
tea, the substance used to keep your eyes open and your taste-buds
hopping is one of the great inventions of Zhejinag province in Eastern
China.
Gunpowder teas are primarily produced in the town of Pingshui in the
mountainous Guiji region of the province. The technique for their
production has remained virtually unchanged since the Tang dynasty (AD
618-907) - and what a production it is. After plucking, each individual
leaf is rubbed and twisted by hand then dried by stir-frying in a large
pan. Depending on the quality of the leaf, ambient humidity and
temperature, up to 4 rounds of stir-fry drying may be required. Although
in recent years this process has been sped up somewhat through the
limited use of mechanical equipment, the necessity of hand-rolling the
tea into its signature shape is still incredibly labor intensive. In
fact, it is so labor intensive that tea workers have developed many
euphemisms to describe the intensity of the process. For example: “It
takes 1 kilogram of sweat trickling down the heels to produce 1 kilogram
of tea.” Or: “The tea of one season will make one thin and meager
because of the work required.” Luckily for the workers, they are all
well fed and properly looked after on the job! (We know this because we
visit the factories frequently to ensure working conditions meet
acceptable international standards.)
The end result of all this work is a fabulous cup that has long been
prized by Chinese and Westerners alike. In fact, Zhejiang Gunpowders
were at one time the second most expensive teas on the London markets
and continue to be popular the world over to this day. The tea is prized
for its robust fresh character that is underscored by subtle touches of
oak. (Incidentally, Gunpowder tea is the base of many Moroccan mint
teas because of its rich character.) When selecting Gunpowders, traders
look for tea that has been tightly rolled and has a slightly waxy
appearance indicative of freshness. The Superior grade we are offering
here is a superb example of these qualities. Open the bag and you will
find a tightly rolled, uniformly sized tea with an aroma that will have
you reaching for a teapot immediately. Enjoy Superior Gunpowder today
and experience one of Zhejiang’s finest offerings.
Hot tea brewing method: When preparing by the cup, this tea can be used
repeatedly - about 3 times. The secret is to use water that is about
180’F or 80’C. Place about 1-1 1/2 teaspoons in your cup, let the tea
steep for about 3 minutes and then begin enjoying a cup of enchantment -
do not remove the leaves from the cup. Once the water level is low -
add more water, and so on and so on - until the flavor of the tea is
exhausted.