It is very hard to match the flavours and health benefits of almost any Peppermint herbal tea. Except, of course, when you blend it with delicious and nourishing green gunpowder tea leaves. To be more specific, this beverage uses natural peppermint extract, which is infused into the leaves during the processing.
Peppermint Green Tea is a strong, hearty beverage; capable of offering more than just a great taste. Its beneficial properties are twofold, and can provide the avid consumer with an improved immune system, a reduced risk of Type II diabetes, and even excellent weight management. Perhaps more importantly, however, this high-quality green tea uses only the very finest mint to offer a naturally intense and crisp note to the overall flavour of the brew.
Aromatic, lively, and rich, Peppermint Green Tea is a brilliant choice to lift your spirits. Alternatively, if your ‘spirits’ need cooling in the hot summer sun, then this beverage makes an ideal Iced Tea to sit back and relax with in your favourite lawn chair!
Combined, these two incredible flavours make a truly wonderful brew, but their respective histories are very different as separate entities! Gunpowder Green Tea originates from China. It is believed to have been first created during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 CE). Gunpowder Tea is known as ‘zhū chá’, which can be translated to literally mean ‘pearl tea’ or ‘bead tea’.
This is likely owing to its pre-brewed appearance, which resembles the gunpowder pellets used in early muskets. Yet, there are other theories, one suggesting that Gunpowder Tea acquired its name from the sound it made upon infusion. When the rolled green tea leaves are placed in boiling hot water, they make ‘crackling’ and ‘exploding’ noises as they unfurl.
Finally, there is the belief that it may stem from the Mandarin Chinese phrase for ‘freshly brewed’, ‘gāng pào de’ (剛泡的), which sounds very similar to the English word, ‘gunpowder’. Whether there is truth behind any of these stories is a subject of great debate. During the 19th Century, Taiwan, then still a part of China began to cultivate Green Tea for its use in gunpowder teas. These new beverages eventually became known as Formosa Gunpowder Teas (‘Formosa’ derives from the island’s name prior to independence). This particular brew, however, upholds age-old tradition with the use of Chinese green gunpowder tea leaves.
Unsurprisingly, the peppermint extract used in this tea originates from the peppermint plant, botanically known as Mentha piperita. This aromatic, rhizomatous, perennial plant is thought to be a hybrid of watermint (Mentha aquatica) and spearmint (Mentha spicata). It can grow to heights of 30 to 90 centimetres (12 to 35 inches), and is easily recognised by its purple flowers and green leaves with serrated edges.
Evidence of peppermint’s usage can be dated back thousands of years to Ancient Egypt. Dried peppermint leaves were recently discovered at the Giza Pyramids, which have since been carbon dated to 1,000 BCE. It was also used by the Ancient Romans, and was famously referenced by Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE) in many of his publications. The first recorded cultivation of peppermint, meanwhile, was in 1750’s England.
Today, peppermint extract can be found in many household and commercial products, including toothpaste, mouthwash, chewing gum, alcoholic liqueurs, digestive aids, essential oils and, of course - tea! Although no leaves from the peppermint plant are used in this particular brew, this does not mean, by far, that Peppermint Green Tea is without its marvellous health benefits. To find out more information on how this tea can improve your everyday way of life, please see our Health Benefits section below.
Type of Tea: Loose Leaf Green Tea.
Origin: Zhejiang Province, China.
Brewing Instructions: Brew using freshly boiled water left to cool to temperatures of 75-80 degrees. Following this, brew for 2-3 minutes, depending on personal tastes. As with all Green Teas care must be taken not to over brew your infusion as that can result in a harsher taste in cup.
How to Serve: The strong flavours of this brew usually do not warrant any further additions. However, lemon may be considered to bring out some bitterness. The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company believe this beverage to is best served as it is.
Tasting Notes: Bursting with mintiness - both in flavour and aroma - this tea is a delight to the senses! Peppermint Green Tea is a strong, flavoursome brew - easily recognised by the tingling sensation that dances on your palate with every sip. Refreshing to the last, this tea also consists of earthy-grassy undertones from the green tea leaves.
Colour in Cup: Golden-orange liquor, dark in tone.
Peppermint and Green Tea Benefits: According to research published by the University of Maryland Medical Center, peppermint and peppermint extracts are a decongestant and expectorant. Alas, Peppermint Green Tea might just be the answer to clogged sinuses and nasty coughs! Further to this, drinking green tea may help prevent minor illnesses such as the common cold and flu in the first place, according to studies conducted by New York University Langone Medical Center.
If that wasn’t enough, a large-scale Japanese study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association recently indicated that Green Teas including Gunpowder Teas may provide frequent consumers with a longer lifespan.
The study examined 40,530 test subjects over an 11 year period, determining that those who drank the most Green Tea were less likely to die from any of the causes studied, excluding cancer. Participants who consumed 5 cups per day obtained the greatest benefits. It may not be the elixir of life - but it might just be the next best thing!
