Gunpowder Black

Today's sampling is of Hummingbird Tea Company's Gunpowder, a black tea. Upon my initial cup, I added a touch of sugar and found it to be quite pleasant. The second cup, which I had with milk and sugar, was truly exceptional. The tea boasts a remarkably smooth flavor profile, devoid of bitterness. It is, in fact, a delight to sip. As I savor my third cup, I have decided that I will likely place an order, as I genuinely enjoy the tea. I detect a subtle hint of smokiness, though it is by no means overpowering. From the moment I opened the package, I had a feeling that I would appreciate this tea. Upon preparing my fourth cup, I opted to try it iced with sugar, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Notably, when served iced, I did not detect the smokiness that I had previously noted, leading me to wonder if 'smokiness' is indeed the correct descriptor. Overall, I found the tea to be truly exceptional, whether served hot or iced.


Summary:
This bold and smooth black tea is a lovely surprise for anyone familiar with traditional green gunpowder teas. While it shares the same tightly rolled leaf style, this version offers rich, toasty depth and a subtle natural sweetness, making for a complex cup.

I find it relaxing to watch the tight balls of leaf unfurl as they steep. Brewed at 205°F for 5 minutes (1.5 tsp in 10 oz), the liquor is a deep amber-brown. The flavor isn’t overly intense but has a substantial presence, with a roasted, malty base and smooth finish. On first sip, faint notes of cocoa and dried fruit come through, and an earthy finish adds to its complexity. There’s a gentle smokiness, mellow and well-rounded, not astringent. To be clear this is nothing like lapsang souchong. It leans much more toasty and malty than campfire smoke. This is a satisfying cup with a lingering warmth.

Out of curiosity, I tried it with mint and honey for a moody twist on Moroccan mint…think Andes mint with depth. It’s a great everyday tea with a little personality, easy to drink, even if you don’t like smoky teas.

This rolled “Black Pearls” of tea from Fujian Chinese Province is beautiful to watch as it brews and the leaves unfurl and steep to a rich amber color. I steeped this at 205 Degrees for 4 mins. It is a mildly smoky black tea, very subtle in the smoky notes but translates to a fuller bodied cup of black tea.

This tea had a woody taste that complemented the slight smokiness and translated to a nice pure black tea. It steeped wonderfully on its second brew at 200 degrees for 5 mins and I did enjoy this second steep with just a dash of honey. I do not tend to drink my teas with milk or cream, but I do think this one could stand up to both if that is your preference.

Another wonderful brew from Hummingbird Tea and if your looking for a pure black tea, that has some wonderful woody and smoky notes, give this one a try.

Meet my latest obsession: Gunpowder Black, aka the sassy little tea that packs a punch!

Rolled up tight like it’s keeping secrets, then BAM—once the hot water hits, it’s bold, dark and totally full of personality. This tea feels like a cozy hug and a pep talk in one.

Today’s vibe: a cup full of confidence, bunny sidekicks, and strong tea energy.

Hummingbird Tea Co’s Gunpowder Black was my first of its kind. I’ve had gunpowder green teas in the past, but I didn’t even know black gunpowder teas existed before trying this one!

Actually, I didn’t even know what gunpowder teas Were to start with, and apparently they mostly come from the Zhejiang Province of China, and are so named because of the way the leaves are rolled up into little ball shapes. Whether black or green, the earthy, slightly smoky taste is also characteristic.

That certainly describes this particular gunpowder black, though I have to admit it’s gentler than I was expecting, especially with a 4 minute steeping. There’s definitely a hint of smoke but it’s mostly earthy, almost herbaceous in nature with a surprisingly smooth mouthfeel and a finish on the dryer side. It could almost be a puerh, honestly, from the taste, if you weren’t looking at the packaging. Wonderful sipping experience, and as always, high quality from a small business I trust. Thank you Hummingbird!