Our Gunpowder Temple of Heaven loose leaf green tea is a refined Chinese green tea from Zhejiang, hand-rolled into tight pearls that unfurl beautifully in hot water. Smooth and gently smoky, with subtle nutty sweetness, grassy freshness and a lingering mineral finish, it offers a more polished cup than standard gunpowder grades and is equally rewarding enjoyed plain or prepared Moroccan-style with mint.
Gunpowder Temple of Heaven Loose Leaf Green Tea
Gunpowder Temple of Heaven loose leaf green tea is one of the finer and more widely recognised expressions of traditional Chinese pearl-rolled green tea. Specialist retailers consistently describe Temple of Heaven as a higher-quality gunpowder grade, with tightly rolled leaves, a smoother cup and a less bitter finish than more ordinary versions.
The small, lustrous pellets slowly open in the pot, releasing their flavour gradually and creating a tea that is as enjoyable to watch as it is to drink.
Smooth, Lightly Smoky and Gently Nutty
In the cup, this Gunpowder Temple of Heaven loose leaf green tea brews to a warm golden-olive liquor with a clean, rounded body. The flavour is lightly smoky, subtly sweet and softly nutty, with a grassy green tea freshness beneath and a lingering mineral finish.
It is bolder than many delicate green teas, but more composed and refined than standard gunpowder grades, making it a particularly satisfying choice for those who enjoy green tea with structure and presence.
A Fine Pearl-Rolled Chinese Green Tea
Temple of Heaven is known for its small, tightly rolled pellets, often treated as a finer gunpowder grade than everyday examples. The compact rolling helps preserve the leaf and gives this tea its distinctive unfurling character during brewing.
It is a classic style with enduring appeal: strong enough to make a memorable plain green tea, yet versatile enough for traditional mint tea preparation.
At a Glance
- Tea type: Loose leaf green tea
- Origin: Zhejiang, China
- Style: Gunpowder Temple of Heaven
- Liquor: Warm golden-olive
- Flavour: Lightly smoky, gently nutty, grassy and mineral
- Best enjoyed: Plain or Moroccan-style with fresh mint
A Classic Green Tea for Plain Drinking or Mint Tea
Gunpowder Temple of Heaven is especially enjoyable as a focused mid-morning tea, when its smooth smoky character and lively freshness come through clearly. It is also widely associated with Moroccan-style mint tea, where it is brewed strongly with fresh mint and sugar for a generous, sociable serve.
How to Brew Gunpowder Temple of Heaven
Use water at around 80°C and add one heaped teaspoon per 200ml. Steep for 2 to 3 minutes for a clean, bright cup.
A shorter infusion keeps the liquor lighter and fresher. A fuller 3-minute brew brings out more body, smoke and nutty depth.
For Moroccan-style mint tea, brew a little stronger, add fresh mint and sweeten to taste before serving.
Ingredients
Green tea.
About High Teas London
High Teas London has been sourcing distinctive loose leaf teas and infusions since 2008. With over 350 different teas in our collection, we are proud to offer classic green teas with real provenance and lasting appeal, including Gunpowder Temple of Heaven.
