Gunpowder tea was first created in Pingshui, Zheijing Province,China, also called Pearl Tea. To create the distinctive appearance of gunpowder, the leaves are withered,then steamed and rolled into small pellets. The pellets are rolled tightly and carefully to prevent breaking the veins in the leaves. The pellets are then dried. The tea is so named because its rolled, pellet-like appearance is similar to gunpowder. Despite its explosive-sounding name, gunpowder tea is not actually made of gunpowder! Gunpowder tea leaves stay fresh longer than any other green tea leaves due to its compressed form. It is one of the best known varieties of Chinese green tea.
Gunpowder tea is with a rich, strong taste that has been described as resembling soft honey. When brewed, gunpowder tea soup produces yellowish infusion. Its fresh and fragrant taste makes Gunpowder tea a best match to strong-tasting food. Gunpowder green is higher in caffeine than most other green teas (35-40 mg/8 oz serving) and is commonly used by athletes to improve endurance over periods of 3-6 hours.