When it comes to its unique and somewhat strange appearance, gunpowder tea leaves are hands down. Workers made them by rolling these leaves and shoots together into small round balls that resembled early rifle lead bullets. This is probably why gunpowder tea got its name. However, no one seems to know exactly why it is called that.
Gunpowder tea is called "zh chá" in China, which translates to "pearl tea" or "pearl tea." Meanwhile, its English name is said to have come from an English port clerk who once described the appearance of pre-steeped tea as similar to gunpowder. Another theory is that it derives from the Mandarin word for "fresh brew," which, if pronounced correctly, sounds like the English word for "gunpowder."