Today, the communiTEA is drinking...

Gunpowder Tea (珠茶, zhū chá — "pearl tea") is a classic Chinese green tea from Zhejiang province, China, where it has been produced for over a thousand years. The leaves are hand-rolled into tiny, tightly compacted pellets that resemble gunpowder — giving this tea its Western name, coined in the 17th century when European traders first encountered the rolling style. The pellets unfurl dramatically in hot water, opening into full leaves and releasing a full-bodied cup with a distinct hint of smokiness and a smooth, buttery mouthfeel.

One of the most versatile green teas in our collection: excellent plain, exceptional as the traditional base for Moroccan Mint tea when blended with fresh or dried spearmint. The combination of Gunpowder's full body and slight smoke with mint's brightness is the foundation of one of the world's most widely drunk tea traditions.