Organic Positively Tea Company, Pinhead Gunpowder, Green Tea, Loose Leaf, 16 Ounce

Not the fanciest and contains a few stems. However, it is tasty, good for three brewings, and expands nicely with quick preparation. Better than most decent loose-leaf teas and less expensive that gourmet blends without giving up too much in flavor or intensity. Package holds up well and has a nice smoky flavor and aroma.

Mild smooth green tea, quality was high it seems shipping or packaging could be improved slightly as there was quite a bit of tea dust inside the package indicating some tea was crushed at some point. The quality is good and it brews well, smells great, the quantity is appropriate, I’m very happy.

Smells good like an original green tea Colour is like original green tea Taste good Good quality

IDK what it is with this green tea. I tried it multiple times out of stubbornness thinking maybe I was somehow making it wrong. Even got exact with the prep using a timer and temp probe following the instructions exactly. Then I tried underbrewing it with a -15F temp & steeping just 2 minutes. It was better when weaker, but only because there was just less of the tea tannins in the cup. Still quite rough compared to a very typical Sencha. Every brew tasted very bitter, slightly smoky, the color came out brownish orange (presumably because it's a fired-tea) despite the tea itself looking pale green Headaches for about an hour after drinking a full cup. It reminded me of the times I drank extremely hoppy beers & got a headache. It doesn't taste like hops, but IDK, it's just not good. Not enjoyable on any level. I tried it 4 times & could not make it pleasant. No idea if this is how it's supposed to be or not, but whatever I got was pretty awful & I just threw out $15 of tea. Wish I'd thrown it out after the second confirmation brew instead of suffering through two more. I guess it's back to the expensive Japanese brands for green tea, have not been able to find a Chinese green that is even vaguely in the same realm... and I've tried. Figured there must be a Chinese organic that's at least 70% as good as the $20-40/100g Japanese greens I'm used to, but for less money. $16 for 450g tempted me but I guess I've learned my lesson. Back to Gyokuro & Sencha.

If you are a fan of pinhead gunpowder green tea I heartily recommend this brand. I have tried many brands of gunpowder green tea and this is as pleasant and consistent a flavor as I have found, while still being reasonably priced, especially given that it is organically farmed. The tea is packaged in a resealable, thick plastic bag that holds up well. My wife and I drink it every morning instead of coffee and it is a very satisfying drink to start the day. The caffeine buzz from a strong cup of gunpowder green is more subtle than coffee, but lasts longer, with no "wrung out" feeling after it wears off. If you have never tried pinhead gunpowder tea it is in a category of its own, with a pleasantly robust and full flavor. It gets its dramatic name due to its resemblance to gunpowder; from the rolled tea leaves that are balled up when dry, but unfurl into surprisingly large leaves when steeped. From my experience, here are a few tips to enjoy gunpowder green the most: - Don't brew it from roiling hot water. Pull the top off of your tea kettle to let it cool a bit (3 -5 minutes after boiling). This should bring down the temperature of the water to around 180 degrees Fahrenheit, which is ideal. - Brew the tea for 3 to 3 1/2 minutes, but no longer. That will help avoid bitterness. - Keep most of the tea in the sealed bag. Take out what you think you might use within a week or so, and store it in a metal tin. It's easier to manage. - Purchase a tea spoon, one specifically made for loose tea. You can find them with small handles that fit nicely in a tea tin. Having a good spoon makes it easier to brew a predictable amount for flavor. - It tastes fine brewed in stainless steel, but I think it is best brewed in glass. There are a variety of wonderful tempered glass teapots to choose from that make it easy to see the release of flavor and color as the tea infuses the water. - Don't be afraid to brew the leaves again. This kind of tea has a lot to offer a second brewing, or can easily become a great iced tea later. Enjoy!