Hey All,

So, I ran out of my nice Pu Erh that was special ordered, so I decided to
run out to the store, and grab some tea. I went to a well known natural
food store in the area thinking that they would have a bunch of teas. I
was right, and I decided I would give myself another shot at brewing a
correct green tea. Looking around, I couldn't resist the name: Gunpowder?
Hah! So, I decided to try some, and I think it's actually pretty good. The
question is, what on earth is this stuff? Is it really green tea? It was
pretty cheap, but I wonder why? If anything, there is so much of it in the
tin that I'll have a good backup for quite some time if I get other stuff
in.

Aaron W. Hsu


--
Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its
victims may be the most oppressive. -- C. S. Lewis

On Oct 25, 8:08*pm, "Aaron W. Hsu" > wrote:
> Hey All,
>
> So, I ran out of my nice Pu Erh that was special ordered, so I decided to *
> run out to the store, and grab some tea. I went to a well known natural *
> food store in the area thinking that they would have a bunch of teas. I *
> was right, and I decided I would give myself another shot at brewing a *
> correct green tea. Looking around, I couldn't resist the name: Gunpowder? *
> Hah! So, I decided to try some, and I think it's actually pretty good. The *
> question is, what on earth is this stuff? Is it really green tea? It was *
> pretty cheap, but I wonder why? If anything, there is so much of it in the *
> tin that I'll have a good backup for quite some time if I get other stuff *
> in.
>
> * * * * Aaron W. Hsu
>
> --
> Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its *
> victims may be the most oppressive. -- C. S. Lewis

There is a ton of info on gunpowder in the archives here. It seems
that almost everyone is drawn to this tea by name/unknown appeal
alone, it surely isn't the tea itself. It is mostly harsh and smoky
and rarely exhibits any quality or complexity. I wouldn't use it as a
yardstick to measure green tea against, but it will make you
appreciate good green teas more as you explore since it mostly only
goes up. It can be mixed with mint for "Moroccan Mint" which some
people like.

I really would love to do a study of what percentage of tea drinkers
have a box or tin of gunpowder 95% full and over 2 years old in their
cupboard... it has to be high, possibly universal. I truly believe
this is the only reason they stay in business.

There are some great Chinese green from sweet to nutty to smoky which
are all far better for your second attempt

- Dominic

There are other green teas I would rank with GunPowder. Ive given
them the name of 'grotty green' which I use when I run across them.
The Hai Nan Clouds and Mist which Im drinking now reminds me of such.
It is harsh without being bitter. Since I know GunPowder is not that
unusual I can appreciate it more.

Jim

On Oct 26, 6:56 am, "Dominic T." > wrote:
> On Oct 25, 8:08 pm, "Aaron W. Hsu" > wrote:
....gunpowder no fru fru tea...

> There is a ton of info on gunpowder in the archives here. It seems
> that almost everyone is drawn to this tea by name/unknown appeal
> alone, it surely isn't the tea itself. It is mostly harsh and smoky
> and rarely exhibits any quality or complexity. I wouldn't use it as a
> yardstick to measure green tea against, but it will make you
> appreciate good green teas more as you explore since it mostly only
> goes up. It can be mixed with mint for "Moroccan Mint" which some
> people like.
>
> I really would love to do a study of what percentage of tea drinkers
> have a box or tin of gunpowder 95% full and over 2 years old in their
> cupboard... it has to be high, possibly universal. I truly believe
> this is the only reason they stay in business.
>
> There are some great Chinese green from sweet to nutty to smoky which
> are all far better for your second attempt
>
> - Dominic

I believe I have several containers of Gunpowder in my basement, but
they probably average only 70% full. Moroccan Mint is a wonderful
bridge tea to show the skeptical what is possible beyond Lipton and
Twinings.

On Oct 26, 2:56*pm, "Dominic T." > wrote:
> On Oct 25, 8:08*pm, "Aaron W. Hsu" > wrote:
>
>
>
> > Hey All,
>
> > So, I ran out of my nice Pu Erh that was special ordered, so I decided to *
> > run out to the store, and grab some tea. I went to a well known natural *
> > food store in the area thinking that they would have a bunch of teas. I *
> > was right, and I decided I would give myself another shot at brewing a *
> > correct green tea. Looking around, I couldn't resist the name: Gunpowder? *
> > Hah! So, I decided to try some, and I think it's actually pretty good. The *
> > question is, what on earth is this stuff? Is it really green tea? It was *
> > pretty cheap, but I wonder why? If anything, there is so much of it in the *
> > tin that I'll have a good backup for quite some time if I get other stuff *
> > in.
>
> > * * * * Aaron W. Hsu
>
> > --
> > Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its *
> > victims may be the most oppressive. -- C. S. Lewis
>
> There is a ton of info on gunpowder in the archives here. It seems
> that almost everyone is drawn to this tea by name/unknown appeal
> alone, it surely isn't the tea itself. It is mostly harsh and smoky
> and rarely exhibits any quality or complexity. I wouldn't use it as a
> yardstick to measure green tea against, but it will make you
> appreciate good green teas more as you explore since it mostly only
> goes up. It can be mixed with mint for "Moroccan Mint" which some
> people like.
>
> I really would love to do a study of what percentage of tea drinkers
> have a box or tin of gunpowder 95% full and over 2 years old in their
> cupboard... it has to be high, possibly universal. I truly believe
> this is the only reason they stay in business.
>
> There are some great Chinese green from sweet to nutty to smoky which
> are all far better for your second attempt
>
> - Dominic

On Oct 28, 4:48*am, Joel Dietz > wrote:
> I believe I have several containers of Gunpowder in my basement, but
> they probably average only 70% full. Moroccan Mint is a wonderful
> bridge tea to show the skeptical what is possible beyond Lipton and
> Twinings.

haha, I informally polled three of my friends and they all had a
vintage tin or cardboard box and I do too... mine is easily 90% full
theirs were of varying degrees, one almost empty. When I asked how he
managed to get through so much of it, he said he had been out of work
for a while a couple years back and it was the only tea he had left...
even that motivation didn't get him all the way through

I have actually had decent gunpowder tea a couple of times, that was
actually sweet and slightly smoky and good quality, it is just that
the black/dark green box/tin of "temple of heaven" gunpowder sold in
most markets is just the worst, and for some reason attracts everyone
like moth to flame.

- Dominic