Form
Loose leaf
Leaf
Green
Brew temp
175°F
Steep time
3 min
The verdict
Where this pick fits.
Rolled tight into dark green pellets. Drop them in hot water and they unfurl slow and deliberate, releasing smoke and pine into the cup over the course of a minute or two. Watching it bloom is half the point.
Tight little pellets. Hot water finds them. They unfurl. It earned its spot in our lineup by solving the stage it's supposed to solve, without pretending to solve every stage after it.
Quick take
- Best for:afternoon, slow-watch brew, pellet unfurl
- Format: Loose leaf
- Leaf: Green
- Caffeine: medium
Best for
Where it earns its keep.
- · afternoon
- · slow-watch brew
- · pellet unfurl
Keep moving
Useful next clicks.
Brew it
175°F. 3 min. Then let go.
- 01Heat the water to 175°F / 79°C. Off the boil, not on it.
- 02Dose 1 tsp / 8oz. Give the leaf room in an infuser or basket.
- 03Steep 3 min.
- 04Strain everything. Leaf left in the cup keeps going.
- Ratio, water and re-steeps in depth: how to brew green.
Style
Steep
3:00
Ready.
- Water
- 175°F / 79°C
- Leaf
- 1 tsp / 8oz
3 min at 175°F, then lift.
Head to head
See how it stacks up.
On the shelf
Side by side.
The closest green picks we've reviewed, with the numbers from each review.
- Numi Organic Gunpowder GreenLoose leaf · medium caffeine · 175°F · 3 min · Mid · this review
- Rishi Jade Cloud Organic Loose LeafLoose leaf · medium caffeine · 175°F · 2-3 min · Mid
- Teavivre Dragon Well (Long Jing) Green TeaLoose leaf · medium caffeine · 175°F · 2-3 min · Splurge
- Ippodo Kuradashi Hojicha (80g Bag)Loose leaf · low caffeine · 195°F · 30 sec · Splurge
- Tealyra Jasmine Dragon Pearl Green TeaLoose leaf · medium caffeine · 175°F · 2-3 min · Splurge
- Rishi Tea Gyokuro Loose LeafLoose leaf · medium caffeine · 130°F · 90 sec · Splurge
| Tea | Form | Caffeine | Water | Steep | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numi Organic Gunpowder GreenThis review | Loose leaf | medium | 175°F | 3 min | Mid |
| Rishi Jade Cloud Organic Loose Leaf | Loose leaf | medium | 175°F | 2-3 min | Mid |
| Teavivre Dragon Well (Long Jing) Green Tea | Loose leaf | medium | 175°F | 2-3 min | Splurge |
| Ippodo Kuradashi Hojicha (80g Bag) | Loose leaf | low | 195°F | 30 sec | Splurge |
| Tealyra Jasmine Dragon Pearl Green Tea | Loose leaf | medium | 175°F | 2-3 min | Splurge |
| Rishi Tea Gyokuro Loose Leaf | Loose leaf | medium | 130°F | 90 sec | Splurge |
Common questions
Before you pour.
Is the Numi Organic Gunpowder Green worth it?+
Rolled tight into dark green pellets. Drop them in hot water and they unfurl slow and deliberate, releasing smoke and pine into the cup over the course of a minute or two. Watching it bloom is half the point. We keep it in the lineup for afternoon and slow-watch brew.
How much caffeine is in Numi Organic Gunpowder Green?+
It sits in the medium range, which is typical for green tea. A longer steep pulls more caffeine; pull it early in the 3 min window to keep the cup lighter.
What water temperature and steep time does Numi Organic Gunpowder Green need?+
Brew at 175°F for 3 min. Our brewing guide has the full method, ratio, and water notes.
What is similar to Numi Organic Gunpowder Green?+
Closest on our shelf is Rishi Jade Cloud Organic Loose Leaf. Cool the water first. The leaves don't respond well to pressure. After that, Teavivre Dragon Well (Long Jing) Green Tea. Pan-fired flat. Toasted, sweet, no grass. The Chinese standard. The shelf table on this page lines them up.
Is there a lower-caffeine alternative to Numi Organic Gunpowder Green?+
Ippodo Kuradashi Hojicha (80g Bag) sits in the low caffeine range, against this one's medium. Roasted dark. Toasty, caramel-edged. A cup at ten won't argue with sleep.
Where can you buy the Numi Organic Gunpowder Green?+
Through the Amazon link on this page. Buying via our link costs you nothing extra and keeps xxxtea's reviews independent.
House rule
xxxtea earns a small commission on Amazon links. Your price is identical. Our take doesn't soften for anyone.
