Gunpowder/Pearl Tea

[dialagranny]

I seem to remember a gunpowder tea making the polls late last year but due to lack of interest it never made it to peoples doors. I went to a dinner party last week where the hosts proudly showed off what looked like gunpowder tea and it tasted absolutely marvelous. Ridiculously hassle free to prepare as well - you pop 3 rolled balls into a big teacup, add hot water and then after a couple of minutes remove the now-unfurled leaves and drink. As I said, it was an extremely good drop, but after we had finished with the tea it was revealed that it cost the hosts something like $30 for 100g at T2. $300 DOLLARS A KILO?!?!?!

Anyway I cant remember anything like that sort of price here when the poll was up, because I remember considering getting a kilo and theres no way in hell I could justify that price. So anyway long whinge short, can we please have another shot at some gunpowder? Or any other specialist tea for that matter?

Pete

[Andy]

Re: Gunpowder/Pearl Tea


Hi Pete,
yes we did poll it and although I was talking about not getting it, we did.... and it was GREAT.

Chinese Gunpowder Green Temple Heaven Tea @ $26/kg*
http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1130596180

The interesting thing is that I was told that the provider you mentioned shares the same wholesaler as us! Assuming that is true then they are making a fairly (un)reasonable markup.

The last tea we had on poll was
Chinese Lapsang Souchong Tea @ $24.50/kg*
http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1138791612

...and it polled very slowly even though it too has a retail price of over $100 a kilo. To close the poll I had to buy more than 10kg and to be honest I have no real use or desire for $250 of tea. I have given most of it away and use some in starter packs but I dont think we have enough TeaSnobs here to support buying such large amounts.

Later in the year we might poll another highend-tea... ergo you have a couple of months of lobbying to make it a success.

[Lovey]

Re: Gunpowder/Pearl Tea

Ill assist in the lobbying for this tea ,
Ive heard that it is very nice, so mark me down for a vote for it as well please.

[nunu]

Re: Gunpowder/Pearl Tea

A couple of good green teas to think about are Lung Jeng (thin long leaf), and Mah Lau Meet (trained monkey supposedly picks the best leaves). Another one to think of is Bik Lo Chun. If you like your tea a bit stronger, go with Teet Goon Yum (iron buddha) tea.

Sadly, Ive got a cabinet full of chinese tea compliments of my in-laws. I dont mind at all, because I enjoy tea just as much as coffee.

[dialagranny]

Re: Gunpowder/Pearl Tea

The last tea we had on poll was
Chinese Lapsang Souchong Tea @ $24.50/kg*
http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1138791612

I remember at the bean delivery day at WA Chris or you tried to pawn some of that off to me because yu had far too much. I didnt end up taking any because Lapsang Souchong has never sat well with me.... Smoked tea is far too overwhelming.

Oh and to clarify I talked to my mate today, the T2 gunpowder (called Buddhas Tears) is FIFTY grams for $28. Even considering the pretty tin can that it comes in, and the vacuum sealed plastic bag within the tin, at retail prices of over $500 a kilo, theres a fair bit of markup being made!

I dont even reckon civet processed, Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee in lavish 24 carat gold coffee sacks would fetch that price. Theres an idea actually.....

[Robster]

Re: Gunpowder/Pearl Tea

Hi Pete,
yes we did poll it and although I was talking about not getting it, we did.... and it was GREAT.

Chinese Gunpowder Green Temple Heaven Tea @ $26/kg*
http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1130596180

The interesting thing is that I was told that the provider you mentioned shares the same wholesaler as us! Assuming that is true then they are making a fairly (un)reasonable markup.

Would this be the tea I received with my starter pack in November? If so, I have about 200g of it . . .

- Rob

[Andy]

Re: Gunpowder/Pearl Tea

In a work... dunno.

It looks like little rolled balls and they unroll in hot water to return to a tea leaf tip.

[Dr_Latte]

Re: Gunpowder/Pearl Tea

Hi Guys,
You can count me in for taking some good quality tea. Anything in a good quality flowery orange pekoe would be nice?? There are some very nice tippy leaves from India and Sri Lanka, though Im not that fussy about origin as long as the quality is there.

As an aside, Ive tried that tarry Lapsang Souchong and although I like it many guests have been impartial at best. I think that a safe bet that may poll better is a good orange pekoe that appeals to a broader audience??? I must say that I probably would have bought any other tea in that poll apart from Lapsang as I know that would have to drink the lot !!

Just a thought???

[Mattb]

Re: Gunpowder/Pearl Tea

Hi all,

Id be up for some tea as well, orange pekoe or similar would be good. Actually I think it would help the minister of finance’s view on the whole coffeesnobs experience as much more worthwhile and justified.

Not that I need her approval, I’m my own man I can do what I like when I like.
Hmmm I better stop now I’m gonna get in trouble. ;-)

Matt

[moso]

Re: Gunpowder/Pearl Tea

I  love my coffee, but tea is number one with me. My big enthusiasm is pu erh, but greens and blacks are great. I wont say the CS Lapsang is a truly high-end Lapsang but its been great value. Try making it the gong-fu way: use plenty of leaf, toss out a quick first infusion (rinse) then make  a series of short infusions. Twenty seconds would be a good first infusion after the (optional) rinse. Should get sweeter and less smokey over several infusions. Try the gunpowder green the same way but without the rinse and with water at 80C. The important thing is not to let the tea stay on the leaf. Make the desired infusion and pour it off, into a glass carafe if necessary. Doubly important for greens.

2006 Spring greens and green oolongs have been widely available for some weeks now. Same for first-flush Darjeeelings. Second-flush not far off. (Im babbling now. I like Indian teas but dont know much about them. Too busy with pu erh).

[garglebutt]

Re: Gunpowder/Pearl Tea

you pop 3 rolled balls into a big teacup

Lets be clear on what tea were referring to as this sounds like the balls are bigger than the gunpowder tea which is smaller than a grain of rice. I think the Pearl suggests a somewhat larger ball.

[Al]

Re: Gunpowder/Pearl Tea

Im with Dr Latte, were a coffee group, so to get as many people interested as possible and make sure Andy doesnt get stuck with 10kg of another speciality tea he should poll something as generic as possible.

Otherwise its like offering tea fans 5kg of Monsoon Malibar!

[moso]

Re: Gunpowder/Pearl Tea

I think Als right. There are heaps of good internet sources for specialty teas, but you cant beat the Snobs for green coffee. Something familiar that has instant appeal and can be brewed with or without milk and sugar, that might be okay. An Assam?

If anyone is left with too much Lapsang, dont worry. Its one of the very few loose teas that improves a bit with aging.

By the way, should Andy or others end up out of pocket, is it a good idea for the rest of us to drop some extra money into the CS account? A few dollars between hundred of members shouldnt be a problem. Just a thought.

[goatherder]

Re: Gunpowder/Pearl Tea

Ill be up for a couple of kilos of a good black tea. India, Ceylon or China, it doesnt matter. Something like that darjheeling we had the first time would be fantastic.

[Dimal]

Re: Gunpowder/Pearl Tea

Yup,

Me too but probably not the Lapsang Souchong again though :-/. A Kg of really nice Black Tea would be great but havent got a clue as to what origin...... when it comes to tea, Im an absolute newbie ,

Mal.