Gunpowder (tea): benefits and harms

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Gunpowder green tea is produced in the Chinese province of Zhejiang in the east of the country. The drink got its name because of the leaves, the appearance of which resembles gunpowder. In China, tea is known as "Lu Zhu", which means "Green Pearl" in Russian.

History of occurrence and production technology

Gunpowder (tea) appeared a long time ago, back in the days when the Tang Dynasty (618-907) was in power. It was brought to England in the 17th century, and in the USA it has been available since the 19th century.

Despite the fact that by the standards of those years its cost was quite high, the drink managed to gain immense popularity in the countries where it was supplied. Later, its production increased markedly, which led to a decrease in the price. For a long time, this variety of Chinese tea was the leader in terms of export volumes.

In the 1850s, tea appeared in North West Africa. The inhabitants of the continent were the first to come up with the idea of brewing it with mint and adding ice and sugar. This tradition is common in modern Spain and France. Chinese legend says that the gunpowder came from a pearl thata dragon and a phoenix bird missed the ground. In the last century, packages with this tea were called "pea leaves".

Only young leaves are suitable for primary assembly. During the next stage, cuttings are removed from the raw material. The roasting process is accompanied by a person who fans the tea raw materials. The accumulation of a large amount of hot air leads to the loss of herbal aroma.

After roasting, the leaves are laid out on a plate and fanned until completely cooled. The next stage of processing is the twisting of cold raw materials into dense balls. Rounded tea leaves are placed in the cauldron and continue to knead until, when lightly touched, they begin to emit a delicate smell.

This processing technology allows the leaves to retain the richness of their essential oils through repeated brewing. In addition, they can be stored for a long time without losing the properties that fresh tea leaves have.

The process described above does not include a fermentation technique, which means that the drink you purchase will have as many vitamins and nutrients as freshly harvested leaves.

Views

The following varieties are most popular in Europe:

• Taiwan gunpowder. Tea is processed using the same technology as oolong tea. The leaves can be purchased roasted and raw. Taiwanese "pearl tea" can be found in the form of tiny balls and tubes.
• Ceylon gunpowder is grown in the highlands of Sri Lanka.

Selection criteria andbrewing method

Fresh tea leaves are silvery green with a sheen. Small granules indicate that they belong to the primary assembly. If you want to smell the true "pearl tea" that has come down to us since the Tang Dynasty, get a jar with tiny balls. A drink made from large leaves will taste different.

There are a small number of teas in the world that can be brewed in different ways. Such rare drinks include gunpowder (tea). The properties of the leaves, both flavoring and fragrant, depend on the brewing time, temperature and vessel. To find out what you like best, start by pouring a teaspoon of leaves into 150 ml of water at a temperature not exceeding 87 ° C for one minute.

Tea can be brewed several times without losing its qualities. This is possible just thanks to the technology of dense rolling. The leaves must be washed before each preparation.

Taste properties

"Pearl tea" although in appearance it looks a bit like gunpowder, it has no taste and aroma of smoke. Gunpowder is a tea that has vegetable sweetish and metallic notes. Tasting the drink, you will feel the delicate taste of mint, pepper and honey with a sweet-sugary aroma reminiscent of dried fruits.

Pale yellow tea gives an astringent sensation and delights you with its rich, deep, bitter taste. If a smoky aroma is heard during tea drinking, then this is a Taiwanese drink, the leaves of which are slightly roasted in order to satisfy expectations.consumers.

Customer experience and cost

Many, when choosing a daily drink, tend to purchase one that can be consumed without anything, as well as enriched with flavorings, such as lemon balm, raspberry and citrus fruit zest.

This is exactly what gunpowder (tea) is. Reviews about the drink are mostly positive. Many customers comment that this tea is light, refreshing and invigorating.

The cost of the drink depends on the variety and quality. The price for 250 grams starts from 90 rubles. The lower the cost, the more sticks you will find in the bank, which are pre-selected in the highest grade. The leaves do not contain artificial flavors. Some consumers do not like its smell, but this nuance depends on the drink manufacturer and personal preferences.

Tea can be consumed both hot and cold. If you plan to drink it cool, then experts advise making it less saturated. The bitter taste of tea is eliminated with one or two teaspoons of sugar. A unique drink is exactly the phrase that can fully describe gunpowder green tea.

Benefits and harms

This liquid has many useful properties. Tea quenches thirst on a hot summer day, speeds up metabolism, which helps to quickly get rid of excess weight.

In addition, it has a beneficial effect on the speed of thinking in the elderly, the efficiency of the intestines, kidneys and liver. This drink is invaluable for those who have a predisposition to cancer.diseases. The antioxidant properties of gunpowder (tea) can prevent the development of cancer cells and strengthen the immune system.

The composition of the leaves of the drink includes fluoride, which preserves tooth enamel.

The above properties apply to strongly brewed tea. For medicinal purposes, it is enough to drink no more than two cups a day. The drink is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers, people with heart disease and the presence of urolithiasis.

Gunpowder contains more caffeine than other types of green tea. One cup contains 15 to 45 milligrams of this alkaloid. Manufacturers usually indicate information about its quantity and availability on the packaging.