Eeee eeee eeeeee! ashmanra was kind enough to send me a sample of this tea! When I went to add it to my cupboard, I noticed – dur – I had tried it almost a year ago, and dismissed it as being too delicate (because I put milk and sugar in it, and drank it with a butter cookie. I laugh!)
Well, now that I know better :) I am so very enjoying this tea sans additions. It is so naturally sweet and caramely. Honeyed. Mead like. There is a thickness and complexity that I am loving! Delicious! I think I could have taken it another 30 seconds or even a minute (I have more to sample thankfully!!!). It also has the milky mouthfeel that I’ve come to associate with Golden Monkey.
Steep #2 (4:30) is kinda ridiculous in the best way possible. Caramel, caramel, caramel! I’ve never quite tasted this from a tea that didn’t have flavoring added. Wow. `
My other Golden Monkey love from Teas etc. is much milder, and I would say a technically higher quality tea (smoother, longer leaves, more golden), but I like this one better. It has more gusto, which is my preference, but retains the things I like about GM. Harney’s GM is also much, much, much smoother than the so called Golden Monkey (which tastes like Panyang Congu) from Premium Steap.
ashmanra, you have No! Idea! how much you’ve made my day today! I’m crazy about this tea, and I’ve decided that even if I am not at my 40 teas in my cupboard state, I am going to place a Harney & Sons order in November. I remember clear as can be that my last Harney & Sons order came to my house the day after Thanksgiving last year, and I have like, an ounce of cobbled together chocolate tea and Florence tea and that’s all!! Clearly something needs to be done about that!
P.S. When all said and done – 4 steeps of deliciousness!
