Classification of Chinese Gunpowder Tea
Jul 03, 2023
What is Gunpowder Tea?
Gunpowder tea is a type of green tea that belongs to the category of rolled green tea. It is mainly produced in Shaoxing, Yuyao, Shengzhou, Xinchang, and other areas in Zhejiang Province, China. It is named "gunpowder" because the tea leaves are rolled into small pellets. Gunpowder tea has a bright green color, a high fragrance, a clear and bright liquor, and a fresh and refreshing taste.
Standard Classification
According to the national standard GB/T 14456.4-2016 "Green Tea Part 4: Gunpowder Tea," gunpowder tea is classified into five grades: Special Grade (3505), Grade 1 (9372), Grade 2 (9373), Grade 3 (9374), and Grade 4 (9375). These numbers are export codes used to differentiate different qualities and prices.
Identification Criteria
The identification process for gunpowder tea grades includes three parts: sensory evaluation, physicochemical evaluation, and hygiene evaluation. The sensory evaluation is conducted by professional tea tasters who compare the tea samples with the standard samples specified by the national standards to determine the grades. The physicochemical and hygiene evaluations are conducted through experiments.
Characteristics of the Five Grades of Gunpowder Tea
Special Grade gunpowder tea is the highest quality among gunpowder teas.
It is made from one bud and one leaf or one bud and two leaves picked before Qingming.
The tea leaves are tightly rolled, thin, and uniform, resembling needles or strips. They have a bright green color with a glossy appearance. The aroma is high and long-lasting, the liquor is tender yellow and bright, and the taste is fresh, refreshing, and sweet. The tea leaves have a tender and even green color.
Grade 1 gunpowder tea is a high-quality variety among gunpowder teas.
It is made from one bud and one leaf or one bud and two leaves picked before Qingming or Guyu.
The tea leaves are tightly rolled, slightly loose, and thin, resembling needles or strips. They have a fresh green color, albeit slightly dull. The aroma is high but slightly weaker. The liquor is yellow-green and bright, and the taste is fresh, refreshing, and slightly astringent. The tea leaves have a slightly yellowish tender green color.
Grade 2 (9373):
Grade 2 gunpowder tea is a medium-quality variety among gunpowder teas.
It is made from one bud and one leaf or one bud and two leaves picked before or after Guyu.
The tea leaves are tightly rolled but not uniformly thin, resembling needles or strips. They have a deep green color with a slightly oily appearance. The aroma is high but not long-lasting. The liquor is yellow-green and slightly turbid. The taste is fresh, refreshing, with a bitter and astringent note. The tea leaves have an uneven tender green color.
Grade 3 (9374):
Grade 3 gunpowder tea is a lower-quality variety among gunpowder teas.
It is made from older leaves, one bud and two leaves, or one bud and three leaves, picked after Guyu or before Lixia.
The tea leaves are loose and not tightly rolled, resembling needles or strips. They have a dull color without gloss. The aroma is low and not high. The liquor is brownish-yellow and somewhat turbid. The taste is bitter, astringent, and not fresh or refreshing. The tea leaves have a yellowish and aged appearance, lacking tenderness and greenness.
Grade 4 (9375):
Grade 4 gunpowder tea is a low-quality variety among gunpowder teas.
It is made from older leaves, one bud and three leaves, or more, picked after Lixia or before Xiaoman.
The tea leaves are messy and unevenly rolled, resembling needles, strips, or flakes. They have a yellowish color without oiliness. The aroma is low and not high. The liquor is brownish-yellow and somewhat turbid. The taste is bitter, astringent, and not fresh or refreshing. The tea leaves have a yellowish and aged appearance, lacking tenderness and greenness.
