In which country did Gunpowder tea originate?

Gunpowder tea is a form of tea in which each leaf has been rolled into a small round pellet.

Gunpowder Tea is believed to have originated in China in the 7th century where its original name was "zhu cha" or “pearl tea”. However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that it earned its name of Gunpowder Tea, when a British clerk noticed that the tightly rolled tea leaves resembled grains of gunpowder.

The tea leaves are withered, steamed & rolled into tight, green balls that open up when steeped. Rolling the leaves enabled tea merchants to export this tea safely, with minimal damage to them during the long journey. In addition, the reduced surface area helps the leaves to retain their flavour, nutrients and caffeine for up to 10 years, meaning gunpowder tea is often considered to have a slightly higher caffeine content than other teas.

Gunpowder tea is popular in North Africa where it is used in the preparation of traditional Moroccan (North African) mint tea, by adding mint and sugar or honey whilst brewing.