China Black Gunpowder Tea China Black Gunpowder Tea. This tea from the Eastern part of the Chinese Province of Fujian, also called "Gunpowder" or "Black Pearls", is carefully processed by hand by experienced tea experts in the traditional way. A pleasantly aromatic, mild, and full-bodied taste with a very slight smoky note. The leaf has been rolled to pearls and has a shining anthracite color. The infusion is medium-dark, the flower aromatic and round. The name 'Gunpowder' derives from it's process, as once the leaves have been withered and steamed they are rolled into small pellets, without breaking the leaf veins, so the enzymes, or juices of the leaf are not released. These are then dried. The pellets look remarkably like gunshot or gunpowder giving the tea it's descriptive name. Amount of tea per cup: 1 slightly heaped teaspoon. Brewing time: 3 to 5 minutes.
