Gunpowder tea (Zhu cha)
(Gunpowder tea, Zhūchá, 珠茶)
Gunpowder tea is a type of green tea that has each leaf rolled into a tiny ball. It originates from Zhejiang province, but it is now produced in several Chinese regions, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan (Formosa). Gunpowder tea was originally hand-rolled into pellets, and though the process is now mostly done by machines, high-grade versions are still rolled by hand.
When brewed, these ball-shaped pellets open and unravel. Gunpowder tea can vary in quality, and it can have different characteristics, but most teas have a subtly smoky and earthy character, green-yellow or golden liquor, and faintly sweet aftertaste.
It can be paired with poultry, pork, and stir-fried dishes. The English name gunpowder allegedly originated because tiny tea balls resemble gunpowder.
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