Gunpowder tea

Gunpowder tea (Chinese: 珠茶; pinyin: zhū chá; lit. 'pearl tea'; pronounced [ʈʂú ʈʂʰǎ]) is a form of tea in which each leaf has been rolled into a small round pellet. Its English name comes from its resemblance to grains of gunpowder. This rolling method of shaping tea is most often applied either to dried green tea (the most commonly encountered variety outside China) or oolong tea.[1]

Gunpowder tea
Chinese Gunpowder Green Tea
TypeGreen
Other namesLo Chu Ch’a, Zhu Cha, 珠茶
OriginZhejiang Province of China, Taiwan, Indonesia, and others
Quick descriptionPopular worldwide. Flavor varies according to the growing location of tea used for production

Gunpowder tea production dates back to the Tang dynasty 618–907. It was first introduced to Taiwan in the nineteenth century. Gunpowder tea leaves are withered, steamed, rolled, and then dried. Although the individual leaves were formerly rolled by hand, today all but the highest grade gunpowder teas are rolled by machines. Rolling renders the leaves less susceptible to physical damage and breakage and allows them to retain more of their flavor and aroma. In addition, it allows certain types of oolong teas to be aged for decades if they are cared for by being occasionally roasted.[1]

Note that the pellets are then dried or "heat-fixed" by pan-firing, sometimes multiple times. The "heat-fix" process is typical of all green teas to stop oxidation (often incorrectly referred to as fermentation but fermentation is actually unique to pu'erh or dark teas!). Japanese green teas are typically steamed to stop oxidation, vs. Chinese green teas which are typically dry "pan-fired"/"pan-fried". This pan-fire process adds to the smokey flavour.

Shiny pellets indicate that the tea is relatively fresh. Pellet size is also associated with quality, larger pellets being considered a mark of lower quality tea. High quality gunpowder tea will have small, tightly rolled pellets.[2] The tea is divided into several grades using a combination of numbers and letters. As an example, 3505AAA is considered the highest grade while 9375 is a relatively lower grade.[3]

Varieties
A map of China with Zhejiang province highlighted
Gunpowder tea is grown in Zhejiang province, China

When sold as a variety of tea, gunpowder tea has several varieties:

  • Pingshui gunpowder (平水珠茶): The original and most common variety of gunpowder tea with larger pearls, better color, and a more aromatic infusion, which is commonly sold as Temple of Heaven Gunpowder or Pinhead Gunpowder, the former being a common brand of this tea variety.
  • Formosa gunpowder: A gunpowder style tea grown in Taiwan near Keelung, it is claimed to have its own characteristic aroma, different from that of Zhejiang Province gunpowder grown in mainland China. Formosa gunpowder teas are typically fresh or roasted oolongs.

Several types of green teas are commonly rolled into "gunpowder" form, including Chunmee, Tieguanyin, Huang Guanyin, and Dong Ding, as well as many other oolong and higher-end jasmine teas.[4]

Etymology

In Mandarin, gunpowder tea is called zhū chá (珠茶; literally 'pearl tea' or 'bead tea'; not to be confused with boba tea).

The origin of the English term may come from the tea's similarity in appearance to actual gunpowder: grayish, dark pellets of irregular shape used as explosive propellant for early guns. The name may also have arisen from the fact that the grey-green leaf is tightly rolled into a tiny pellet and "explodes" into a long leaf upon being steeped in hot water. Another explanation is that the tea can also have a smoky flavor.

It is also possible that the English term may stem from the Mandarin Chinese phrase for 'freshly brewed', gāng pào de (剛泡的), which sounds like the English word gunpowder.[5]

Gunpowder tea ready for the process of steeping

Brewing methods

While brewing methods vary widely by tea and individual preferences, 1 teaspoon of loose-leaf tea is recommended for every 150 ml (5.07 oz) of water. Ideal water temperature for this type of tea is between 70 °C (158 °F) and 80 °C (176 °F). For the first and second brewing, leaves should be steeped for around one minute. It is also recommended that the tea cup or tea pot used be rinsed with hot water prior to brewing the tea to warm the vessels. When brewed, gunpowder tea is a yellow color.[6]

Use in the Maghreb
Moroccan tea ritual

Gunpowder tea is exported to the Maghreb where it is used in the preparation of traditional North African mint tea. The Moroccan tea ritual is at the heart of any social gathering, from an informal visit to a neighbor to lavish soirees with dignitaries. Mint tea is made by adding mint and sugar or honey to gunpowder tea while brewing.[7][8] It was later introduced to Algeria by the great Saharan dynasty of the Ouled Sidi Cheikh, who adapted it from the Moroccans as a luxurious beverage.[9]

References
  1. "Gunpowder Black". Archived from the original on 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  2. "For All The Tea In China". Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  3. "Vicony Tea". Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  4. "Gunpowder Tea". Archived from the original on 2012-04-29. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  5. "Powder". Archived from the original on 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  6. "Slimming Green Tea". Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  7. "Empereur". Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  8. "Tie Guan Yin Oolong Tea". Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  9. Si Hamza Boubakeur, Un soufi algérien Sidi Cheikh.1990,Maisonneuve &Larose.
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