Gunpowder green tea loose leaf scattered on white background with rolled pellets, by Yerba Buena Tea Company.
Brewed golden gunpowder green tea in clear mug with loose leaf scattered beside packaging pouch, by Yerba Buena Tea Company.
Gunpowder loose leaf green tea in a black and green labeled canister with lid, by Yerba Buena Tea Company.

Organic Green Tea | Smoky & Bold | Medium Caffeine

Organic Gunpowder Green Tea

Grown in China Smoky Grassy

Tightly rolled pearls that unfurl into a smoky, toasted cup. The Chinese green tea that became the backbone of Moroccan Mint Tea.

Ingredients: Organic Green Tea.

$18.00 USD
$18.00 USD
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Size: Tea Tin
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About Gunpowder Green

The rolled green tea that unfurls into smoke and toast.

Gunpowder Green is an organic Chinese green tea rolled into tight, tiny pearls during processing. The rolling method, which dates back to the Tang Dynasty, compresses the leaf so tightly that it holds its shape for months without degrading. When you steep the pearls, they unfurl in the cup and release a smoky, toasted flavor that reads bolder and earthier than a steamed Japanese green. Named for its resemblance to 18th-century gunpowder shot, not for its taste. The "Temple of Heaven" grade uses smaller, tighter pearls, which yields a cleaner, more concentrated cup.

Why the rolling matters.

Pan-fired green teas like Gunpowder go through a different heat treatment than steamed greens like Sencha. After the leaves are plucked, they're pan-fired to halt oxidation, then hand-rolled while still warm. The rolling compresses the leaf and seals in the volatile oils. The result is a tea that stays fresh longer, travels better, and brews stronger. The tight pearls also mean you pack more leaf into each teaspoon, which is why the caffeine level reads higher than most other green teas, even though the leaf itself has a medium caffeine content.

The Moroccan Mint Tea tradition.

Gunpowder became the foundation of Maghrebi tea culture in the 18th century, when British traders brought Chinese green tea to North Africa. Moroccan tea masters paired it with fresh spearmint and sugar, creating a ritual that has endured for over 200 years. The smoky sharpness of the Gunpowder cuts through the sweetness of the sugar and holds its own against the aggressive freshness of the mint. Sweet, smoky, herbal, served in three pours that shift in strength and character.

Organic Ingredients
  • Organic Green Tea
Tasting Notes

Aroma: Smoky and earthy. Roasted vegetables, oak, a faint sweetness underneath like toasted grain.

In the cup: Bold and assertive. Toasted, slightly metallic, with a thick mouthfeel. Hickory smoke on the front, vegetal sweetness on the back.

Finish: Crisp, dry, lingering. A faint sweetness that surfaces after the astringency clears.

Why You'll Love It

The rolling tradition: Rolling green tea leaves into pellets is a preservation method that dates back to China's Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE). The tight compression protects the leaf from physical damage, oxidation, and moisture. This is why Gunpowder was a favorite of traders and travelers for centuries: it stayed fresh longer than open-leaf teas, even on long ocean voyages.

The pan-firing process: Unlike Japanese greens, which are steamed to halt oxidation, Chinese greens like Gunpowder are pan-fired in large woks. The dry heat gives the tea its toasted, slightly smoky character. The leaves are rolled while still warm, which seals in the volatile oils and creates the signature bold flavor.

The Moroccan Mint Tea ritual: In Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, Gunpowder is the traditional base for mint tea, a hospitality ritual that has been central to Maghrebi culture since the 18th century. The tea is brewed strong, sweetened heavily with sugar, and served with fresh spearmint in three pours: the first pour is described as 'gentle as life,' the second 'strong as love,' the third 'bitter as death.' The ritual is about generosity, conversation, and the slow passage of time.

Gunpowder loose leaf green tea in a black and green labeled canister with lid, by Yerba Buena Tea Company.

Gunpowder Green

$18.00 USD
$18.00 USD
What's inside

Key ingredients

The botanicals at the heart of this blend, and where in the world they're traditionally grown.

Green Tea

Camellia sinensis

Zhejiang, China & Uji, Japan

Green Tea

Camellia sinensis

Fresh, grassy, and bright, with a gentler lift than black tea.

In the cup

Green tea is the true tea leaf with its oxidation stopped early, by steaming in Japan or pan-firing in China. That quick heat locks in the green color and a fresh, vegetal flavor that runs from grassy to sweet. It steeps light and bright, with less caffeine than black tea and a clean, brisk finish.

Traditionally grown in Zhejiang, China & Uji, Japan

Shop Green Tea teas

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TeaChina

Organic Gunpowder Green Tea

Steep bold. Sip smoke.

Caffeine: Medium
8.0 oz
Water
175°F
Temperature
1.0 tsp
Leaf
3 min
Steep Time
Re-Steep · Up to 2×
The pearls need time to unfurl. Steep 3 minutes at 175°F for a balanced cup. For Moroccan Mint Tea, steep 4 to 5 minutes at full boil to build the backbone that holds up against sugar and fresh mint.
1
Cup

Craft Your Cup

A few notes from our teamakers.

Moroccan Mint Tea (Maghrebi-style)
Brew 1.5 teaspoons of pearls in 8 ounces of full-boil water for 5 minutes. Strain. Add a large handful of fresh spearmint leaves and 2 tablespoons of sugar (or to taste). Steep another 3 minutes. Serve in small glasses, poured from a height so the tea foams. The ritual, not just the recipe.

Iced Gunpowder with Lemon and Honey
Brew double-strength (2 teaspoons in 8 ounces, 4 minutes at 175°F). While the tea is still warm, dissolve 1 teaspoon of honey into the cup. Pour over ice. Top with a squeeze of fresh lemon. The smokiness of the tea balances the tartness of the lemon. Drinks like a refined Arnold Palmer with a toasted edge.

Gunpowder and Ginger Shot
Brew 1 teaspoon of pearls in 4 ounces of full-boil water for 5 minutes. Strain. Add a thumbnail-sized piece of fresh ginger, grated, and a small drizzle of honey. Stir. Sip it as a concentrated morning shot. The ginger amplifies the heat of the tea, the honey softens the astringency. A wake-up call in a small cup.

Gunpowder green tea loose leaf scattered on white background with rolled pellets, by Yerba Buena Tea Company.

Your Questions About Gunpowder Green, Answered.

Why is it called Gunpowder?

The name comes from the appearance, not the taste. The tightly rolled pellets resemble 18th-century gunpowder shot. When you add hot water, the pearls unfurl dramatically into full leaves, a process early British traders described as an 'explosion.' The Chinese name is 'zhū chá,' which translates to 'pearl tea,' a more accurate description.

Is it smokier than other green teas?

Yes. Gunpowder is pan-fired in large woks, which gives it a distinct toasted, slightly smoky character. Japanese greens like Sencha are steamed, which preserves a sweeter, grassier flavor. If you're used to steamed greens, Gunpowder will taste bolder, earthier, and more assertive. The smokiness is part of the style, not a defect.

How much leaf should I use?

1 teaspoon of pearls to 8 ounces of water is the standard ratio. Because the pearls are so tightly compressed, 1 teaspoon of Gunpowder contains more leaf mass than 1 teaspoon of loose-leaf tea, which is why the caffeine level and flavor intensity both read higher. For Moroccan Mint Tea, use 1.5 teaspoons and steep longer to build a strong base.