Merkaba Teas, Royal Ceylon Gunpowder, Green Tea

Origin: Ceylon / Sri Lanka.

Surprising body for a green tea! Enjoy the captivating taste and the intriguing hint of oakiness.

A tightly rolled green tea, Royal Ceylon Gunpowder comes from some of the best estates in Sri Lanka. Dimbula, the region where the tea is
grown, is situated high above sea level, an ideal environment for producing full-bodied flavorful tea.

Gunpowder tea is produced like green tea but after the steaming process the tea is tightly rolled into what appears to be pellets. When hot
water is poured over the leaves, they quickly expand and in some cases almost fill the cup. The tightness of the rolled pellets yield excellent
flavor as well.

The region where the tea is grown, Dimbula, is a high grown area producing full bodied flavory tea. In Dimbula the peak quality time is
during February when northwest monsoons create dry weather conditions.

Royal Gunpowder tea is manufactured in very limited quantities from specific requests due to the time and diligence required to
manufacture this high quality tea. It is very difficult to achieve such a tight roll on the leaves. This particular tea will be able to be stored for
along time without any deterioration in quality.

Tea was planted in Sri Lanka by the British in the 1860’s after a coffee rust wiped out the then primary agricultural coffee crop. At that time
the British East Indies Company had a near monopoly on tea, with most of Britain’s needs coming from China. Relations between China and
Britain were quite rocky during this period (on account of the opium trade) and tea in Sri Lanka looked like a great way to diversify supply
risk by ‘the company’.