Also known as gunpowder tea, it originates from the Chinese region of Zhejiang. It's a grayish-green tea that, when brewed, is rolled into a round shape. Its texture and color resemble the gunpowder used in the muskets of 18th-century European merchants. In this post, you'll learn what gunpowder tea is, its flavor, uses, and recipes.

To make this tea, the leaves are steamed, rounded, and roasted, thus concentrating a greater amount of its properties for a longer period of time. When hot water is added to these tea balls, they open up and release their nutrients. The infusion takes on a yellowish color, but its flavor is more intense, with more character and astringency than green tea.

Flavors of gunpowder tea

The taste of a gunpowder infusion is somewhat bitter when hot water is added. It is recommended to use one gram of gunpowder tea per 60 ml of water, at a temperature of 75°C for a maximum of 2 minutes. Other flavors include:

Gunpowder Pingshui

This is the original and common variety. It has large pellets and a brighter color, indicating freshness, while small pellets indicate good quality. It's different from Japanese green tea, which is more subtle and has a strong, aromatic flavor.

The aroma of this tea variety is robust, smooth, and dry. Excellent for everyday drinking, even iced. The addition of mint makes it a great refresher after a spicy meal.

Gunpowder Formosa

This variety is produced in Taiwan, and its aroma is distinct from that produced in China. It resembles oolong tea , with more mature leaves and a smooth, pleasant flavor. It contains a lot of caffeine and is ideal for drinking with mint.

Ceylon

Ceylon tea is a variety of gunpowder tea grown in the highlands of Sri Lanka. Its pellets are tight, and the resulting brew is very rich.

What is gunpowder tea used for?

This green tea is considered appropriate for aiding weight loss, but what else is it good for?

Like other types of tea, gunpowder tea has many benefits . It contains a large amount of antioxidants that protect the body from disease. For example, it reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

On the other hand, it has antiviral and antibacterial properties, helping to combat colds and flu, as well as fungi, bacteria, and viruses, including herpes, Helicobacter pylori, and Candida albicans.

Reduces the risk of cavities

Studies indicate that its components have a positive impact on teeth and gums, eliminating the bacteria that cause cavities.

Strengthens bones

Osteoporosis is a disease that affects both men and women, with the latter being more likely to develop it. It is said that drinking gunpowder tea helps increase bone density by 5%. It also reduces bone loss, thus preventing fractures.

At Tétique, we're proud to offer a wide variety of organic teas, and one of our standouts is Gunpowder tea. This Chinese green tea features rolled leaves that develop into small balls, each with a robust and slightly smoky flavor. Our selection isn't limited to Gunpowder, though; we also offer other types of green teas. From the delicate Jasmine green tea to the refreshing and revitalizing Sencha green tea , each of our green teas offers a unique experience for tea lovers.

Side effects of gunpowder tea

Gunpowder tea is healthy, however, it is advisable not to overindulge in it due to the caffeine it contains. The recommended daily intake for adults is 400 mg of caffeine, equivalent to about 10 cups a day, although there are certain factors to consider.

• Excessive consumption of gunpowder tea can cause nervousness, insomnia, irritability, headaches, and increased heart rate.
• May affect pregnancy. This type of tea is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. It could harm the baby's development.
• It affects blood pressure. Due to the effects of caffeine, it could affect blood pressure.
• It absorbs iron. Another risk is that it can make it difficult to assimilate iron during the diet. In this sense, people suffering from anemia would be the most affected. It's important to note that iron absorption when drinking this tea between meals is very minimal.

Recipes with gunpowder tea

To make a more delicious gunpowder tea, there are several recipes you can prepare with this type of tea. Let's look at two of them.

Traditional gunpowder tea

To prepare this drink correctly, we must first gather the following ingredients:

• You must buy gunpowder tea , three grams are used
• 200 ml of water.

Preparation method:

1. In a pot, heat the water to a temperature of 80º.
2. Pour some water into the teapot and cup, then discard it.
3. Add the tea leaves and let it steep for about 3 minutes.
4. When pouring it into the cup, do so little by little to give it strength.

Iced Gunpowder Tea

In the form of iced tea . This preparation is made using gunpowder tea bags.

Ingredients:

• 25 gunpowder tea bags.
• Slices of a cucumber.
• Slices of 4 lemons.
• 20 mint leaves.
• 1 kg of ice cubes

The preparation is as follows:

1. Boil the 8 liters of water and let the tea bags steep for 10 minutes.
2. Once the time has elapsed, remove the bags.
3. Once it reaches room temperature, store the preparation in the refrigerator.
4. When it's cold, add the rest of the ingredients: the cucumber slices, the lemon slices, the mint, and the ice.

If you own a coffee shop, bakery, or restaurant, at Tétique we are proud to be your tea and herbal tea supplier . We are your best option, as our teas are organic and sustainably grown. We strive to offer you the highest quality products, taking care of both your well-being and that of the environment. Our organic teas provide you with authentic flavors and health benefits, without compromising nature's natural balance. We also ensure that our products meet the most rigorous organic certification standards. Trust us to provide you with an exceptional selection of teas and herbal teas that will delight your customers and reflect your commitment to quality and sustainability. Together, we can create unique and responsible experiences for those who enjoy a good cup of tea .