Dammann Frères Gunpowder Loose Leaf Green Tea (1kg Pouch)

Gunpowder is one of the oldest and most recognisable green teas in the world — and few names in tea are quite as evocative. Known in China as Zhu Cha, or pearl tea, for the beautiful rounded shape of its rolled leaves, it earned its altogether more dramatic Western name centuries ago, most likely from a British clerk who thought the tightly compacted pellets bore an uncanny resemblance to grains of gunpowder. The name stuck, and this ancient tea has carried it with great distinction ever since.

Production dates back to the Tang Dynasty, between 618 and 907 AD, when artisans in China's Zhejiang Province first mastered the technique of rolling green tea leaves into small, firm pellets. The process begins with the freshest young leaves, which are withered, then pan-fired to halt oxidation — giving gunpowder its characteristic bold, slightly smoky character that sets it apart from the more delicate, steamed green teas of Japan. The leaves are then rolled tightly into their distinctive spherical form. This not only creates the tea's striking appearance, but also protects the leaf and locks in its flavour and aroma during storage and transit. Smaller, shinier pellets are the hallmark of careful processing and higher quality.

In the cup, gunpowder brews to a clear golden-yellow liquor with a lively, astringent character — fresh and thirst-quenching, with earthy, slightly smoky notes underpinned by a pleasant nuttiness and a clean, lingering finish. It is a robust green tea by nature, yet one that remains refreshing rather than heavy. The pellets unfurl slowly and gracefully as they steep, releasing a satisfying depth of flavour across multiple infusions. It is this robustness that has made gunpowder the essential base for traditional Moroccan mint tea, where it is brewed with fresh mint and sugar and poured high from a silver pot — a ritual that sits at the heart of hospitality across North Africa and beyond.

This 1kg pouch is sourced from Dammann Frères, the Parisian tea house whose lineage stretches back to 1692, when King Louis XIV granted a Dammann ancestor the royal privilege to trade tea in France. It is supplied in a generous catering and wholesale format, ideal for those who go through large quantities or wish to share this exceptional tea with others.

Since 2008, High Teas London has been one of the country's leading independent tea specialists. With over 350 teas and infusions — one of the largest collections in the country — we bring carefully chosen teas from the world's finest houses directly to your cup, whether you are seeking a much-loved daily staple or something to inspire a new brewing ritual.

Ingredients: Chinese green tea (Camellia sinensis).

Brewing Note: Gunpowder rewards a little care with water temperature. Use water heated to around 75 to 80°C — water that is too hot can scorch the leaves and tip the flavour towards bitterness. Use approximately one teaspoon of pellets per cup and steep for two to three minutes, adjusting to your preference. The pellets will slowly unfurl during brewing; leaving them in the pot for a second infusion is well worthwhile, as the flavour evolves gently between steepings. For traditional mint tea, add a generous handful of fresh mint and sweeten to taste, then pour from a height to aerate and create a light froth — the proper Maghrebi way.