Tea Knowledge for Better Sourcing
Practical insight into tea quality, production, certification and export readiness.
Organic Gunpowder: 3505A, 3505B, 9375 - Side-by-Side Comparison
unpowder (pearl tea) export coding logic: The 3505 series is considered premium pearl tea, while 9375 is grade four pearl tea. The organic version (Organic) follows the same grading for appearance and internal quality, but the raw materials and the entire production process are organically certified, with pesticide residues meeting EU organic standards. Raw material picking: 3505A uses spring tea with one bud and two leaves; 3505B mostly uses larger leaves from late spring/early summer; 9375 mostly uses mature leaves from summer and autumn, allowing a few thin stems and yellow leaves.
Item-by-item comparison (granule tightness / uniformity / tea soup strength / aroma / astringency / brewing durability / grade positioning / target price)
1. Granule tightness
3505A (Organic Premium Grade): Granules about 2–3mm in diameter, tightly packed and solid, rolled in the roundest, with intact inner leaves when pinched; Dark green with frost, strong gloss, almost no flat sheets or broken grains.
3505B (Upper Standard Grade): particles about 3–4mm, decent rolling, but tightness weaker than 3505A; Some pellets are flatter, slightly lighter in density, also dark green, but with less frost.
9375 (Organic Standard Grade): Granules about 4–5mm, coarse and round, with noticeably weaker tightness; A large number of loose granules, flat blocks and yellow heads visible, a few fine stems, light density, yellowish blackish color for import and export food...
2. Uniformity
3505A: Extremely high. Well-sorted, uniform size, minimal fragments and yellow flakes, making it the preferred appearance for retail bulk raw leaves.
3505B: Moderately high to slightly higher. Size fluctuates greatly, with a small number of larger/smaller granules, a few yellow heads, but no obvious stem.
9375: Slightly low. Significant size variation, often mixed with flat sheets, fine stems, and yellow sheets, with fragmented content higher than 3505A/B; Suitable for bulk in large barrels, not suitable for high-end retail leaf display.
3. Tea concentration (equivalent tea amount: 3g / 150ml, 85°C)
3505A: Bright yellow-green with balanced concentration. Smooth brew, not suddenly too strong; Clear and bright, beautiful golden green.
3505B: Yellow-green is still bright, with higher concentration, resulting in a stronger sense of heavier tea liquor; Stronger than 3505A, with a slight cloudiness risk.
9375: Yellow is still bright, with the strongest concentration and fast brewing speed; The liquor is dark yellow, prone to slight cloudiness, and quickly colors when brewing mint tea (a classic requirement for North African mint tea).
4. Aroma
3505A: Chestnut aroma - Roasted nut aroma with an elegant grassy sweetness; Clean and delicate fragrance, without coarse greenness; The organic version has a purer grassy feel.
3505B: Mainly grassy aroma, with a slight ripe chestnut aroma; The grassy aroma is more pronounced than 3505A, some batches have a very faint fiery aroma, aroma thickness is acceptable, but delicacy is reduced.
9375: Mainly coarse grassy aroma, mild with a slight coarse leaf flavor; The aroma is simple and straightforward, without chestnut layering; Some batches have a faint hay aroma, not suitable for pure tea tasting, but better paired with mint and sugar brewed together.
5. Astringency
3505A: Low and gentle. Slightly astringent with noticeable sweet aftertaste; smooth on the palate, best balanced in bitterness and astringency, friendly for drinking straight.
3505B: Medium astringency, more astringent than 3505A; aftertaste is okay, a big sip can feel significant astringency in the mouth, but still acceptable.
9375: Heaviest astringency, bitterness is prominent; weak aftertaste, quite harsh when drunk straight; advantage is that adding mint or a lot of sugar can neutralize the astringency, which is why the Moroccan market prefers 9375.
6. Brewing Endurance
3505A: Best. Aroma and taste release steadily for 3–4 brews, with gentle decline each time; compact leaves, slow release of contents.
3505B: Medium. 2–3 brews, second brew strongest in flavor, third brew drops noticeably.
9375: Weak. Loose leaves, ingredients release quickly; first and second brew very strong, third brew much weaker. Suitable for single-batch boiling, not ideal for multiple gaiwan brews.
7. Grade Positioning & Target Market
3505A Organic | Premium: Positioning: High-end organic pearl tea, loose leaf retail, specialty supermarkets, hotel tea service, premium tea bags; European and North American organic channels. Selling points: attractive appearance, delicate aroma, suitable for drinking straight.
3505B Organic | Upper Standard: Positioning: Mass retail private brands, mid-range dining; main value-for-money choice. Balances appearance and flavor, great for customers with limited budget who still want good dry tea leaf looks.
9375 Organic | Standard: Positioning: Main bulk tea for North African and Middle Eastern mint tea brewing, loose bulk wholesale; core use is for brewing mint tea, not for retail drinking. Customers prioritize strong tea concentration over leaf appearance uniformity.
8. Target Price Range (Organic, FOB reference, same region and certification, for market comparison only, not fixed pricing)
Organic prices have a clear premium over regular pearl teas; 3505A > 3505B > 9375
- Organic 3505A: Highest, benchmark price approx. 25–35% higher than organic 9375
- Organic 3505B: Mid-range, 10–18% lower than 3505A, higher than 9375
- Organic 9375: Lowest of the three, base price for organic bulk pearl tea
Purchasing Recommendations
1. For the first development of organic pearl tea, it’s recommended to sample and compare 3 types at the same time, using the same brewing conditions, and keep sealed samples; don’t just order based on the code, as the same model from different factories can have big differences in organic raw material quality.
2. Market Selection:
- Organic whole leaf retail in Europe → mainly push 3505A;
- Own brand for budget supermarkets → 3505B;
- Moroccan / North African mint tea customers → 9375 (the key requirement for customers is a strong brew color that goes well with mint candies).
3. Risk Tips: Do not sell 9375 to pure tea tasting customers; 3505A/B can certainly be used for brewing mint tea, but the cost is relatively high, and the cost-performance ratio isn’t as good as 9375.