ARIEL Gunpowder Temple of Heaven

Watch the little rolled pearls unfurl in hot water and you'll see how gunpowder green tea earns its name. This is a classic Chinese green tea, its leaves hand-rolled into tight pellets that open slowly as they steep. The cup is bright and brisk, with the clean, grassy character green tea lovers reach for – a refreshing pick-me-up at any point in the day.

Tasting Notes

Gunpowder brews a golden-amber cup with a fuller body than most green teas – brisk and lightly smoky, balanced by a smooth, faintly sweet finish. A gentle astringency keeps it crisp rather than sharp. Brew it cooler for a mellow cup, hotter and longer for more of its bold edge.

Origin

Gunpowder is one of China's oldest green tea styles, traditionally produced in Zhejiang province. The leaves are rolled into small pellets – the shape that gives the tea its name – which helps protect their freshness and aroma until they meet hot water. Temple of Heaven refers to this carefully rolled, whole-leaf grade.

Brewing

Green tea is best below boiling – steep at 70–85 °C for about 3–4 minutes, using roughly 2.5 g (a heaping teaspoon) per cup. Cooler water keeps it smooth; nudge the temperature and time up for a stronger cup. As a green tea, it carries a moderate amount of caffeine.

Additional Information

• Ingredients: Whole leaf green tea
• Formats: 1 kg loose leaf
• Certifications: Kosher
• Foundation: Humaniterra Foundation