Golden Monkey

Tea of the morning….. and (SRP #49)

It has been almost a whole month since I destashed something. Schedules have been weird, as they are over Summer break, and it has just been easier to grab favorites. This is a sample I received from JacquelineM quite some time ago. (Thank you!) Now it goes out with a bang….a whole decadent pot of this tea. It is probably my favorite Golden Monkey by taste, but the frugal gal in me also pays some attention to price, and this one is pricey for my pocketbook. However, it is worth it, too. Once I cut down on the amount of general China black tea in my cupboard, I will probably buy this one. I also like that for me, it requires less sweetener than others!

Usual teapot method. Resteep coming up!

Today’s first thing, and I’m finally nearing the end of my H&S morning contender tea sampling.

This is reaffirming for me that Golden Monkeys in general are a lovely, popular (and relatively new), sophisticated/delicate tea, but not really for me. I never mind drinking them—what’s to hate; they’re just smooth and sweet and light—but they can’t seem to floor me either, probably because of that tradeoff Michael Harney talks about it in his tea book, how emphasizing oxidized tips makes for a sweeter tea, but also a lighter one. I need more classic black tea brawn and flavor to make me sit up and take notice (weirdly, I seem to be the opposite of most Steepsters I know—I like delicate oolongs but strong blacks and am not into strong/roasty oolongs or delicate blacks). As far as sweet and innovative Chinese black teas go, I’ll take Golden Needle with its honey and more rounded body any day.

All of that said, this is a lovely version for sure, one of the better ones I’ve tried. There’s clover, sweet potato (always sweet potato, sigh), some honey, and a faint whisper of sweet chocolate. Trademark smoothness.

Thanks to ashmanra for a sample of this! I didn’t sleep much last night and this is really helping to perk me up in a gentle way.

I steeped it for 3 minutes in boiling water. Yum! I really like this. It’s a lighter bodied black tea with a lot of maltiness and sweetness. I’m reminded a bit of sweet potatoes and caramelized sugar. Exceptionally smooth and fine. You get a delightful aftertaste and rich mouthfeel. I would not recommend having this with any milk or sugar, it really doesn’t need it! Naturally sweet and delicious.

note: I went back for a second cup and found that I accidentally left my tea leaves still steeping in the pot – steeping this for 10 minutes, I do not recommend. ;-) But on the upside my whole kitchen smells like a molasses cookie!

The other day, I brewed a cup of this, but forgot as I was rushing to get my kids ready for day camp. Packed them up, buckled up in the car and we took off with a huge list of to-do items that needed to be done without children… and halfway to camp, I realized I forgot my tea. So, naturally, as I’m driving, I’m neurotically thinking about all of the reviews I’ve read about this one. I’m weighing the cost of driving 15 minutes back to the house to pick it up and then another 15 minutes back to the freeway. My long list is looming on the passenger seat, and I turn back toward home.

It turns out that it was one of the best decisions of my day! (My sunglasses ended up being made with the wrong prescription; I got lost on the way to a new knitting shop, then found I’d have to hike a while to get there as the entire street was closed for construction.) But, I had finally had the chance to try Golden Monkey, and I have the lovely ashmanra to thank for this experience! (Not the forgetting, wrong prescription and getting lost and finding construction experience, but instead the tea experience.)

Golden Monkey is an appropriate name for this one. It’s a beautiful tea to look at. Dark, black tea leaves intertwined with golden, curled leaves. Like guilded curlicues found on the frames of beautiful artwork. It has a mellow scent that belies its strength. The tea itself smells lovely. Of course, I didn’t get to smell it immediately after steeping, but it still had a nice, sweet aroma to it. Upon tasting, I was surprised at the vegetal taste that I normally get with greens. It is earthy, but not in a pu-erh way. Instead, I would say it’s almost mossy. The element that really makes this tea, though, is the caramel taste that unfurls just after sipping and develops gradually on my tongue. It’s amazing! Sweet and full. This is one tea that should be taken without any additions. It’s very, very lovely and I can now see why Harney & Sons is always sold out of this one.

Thank you, ashmanra, for this wonderful tea! (Now I have to try the new crop, too, as I read your tasting note yesterday.)

Thank you so much to ASHMANRA for sending me this exquisite sample. When I got it I felt an impulse to save it for just precisely the “right” moment (but not having defined right, I did not know when I would drink it). When I read that today is the 100th birthday of Lucille Ball, I thought “golden monkey!” to myself and promptly steeped this fine tea.
Jacquelin M and others are right when they say “caramel”. It’s full, fresh, brisk, and elegant. What a delightful treat!

This is yet another tea from the awesome JacquelineM! Thanks again!!

I’ve tried this sample previously, but didn’t pay enough attention to it as I took it as my work tea (it can be tough paying attention to anything when teaching 6 year olds). I am revisiting this tonight because I’ve wanted to try it and would like to know if it is worth the somewhat hefty (in my opinion) price tag that this tea carries.

While I’m sure this tea is amazing on it’s own, I am really enjoying it with a pinch of sugar and a splash of milk this evening. The first infusion had a definite malty earthiness which reminded me quite a bit of the Golden Bi Luo from Chicago Tea Garden. I was hesitant to try a second infusion because the first one was for such a long time, but I went ahead and gave it a shot.

I am glad that I tried this second infusion! The earthiness is not very noticeable now, but there is a honey sweetness that has taken over. I definitely think that my pinch of sugar has something to do with it, but I can tell there is a natural sweetness lurking below my additions. I am really loving this tea and it will be on my shopping list for sure!

Steeped a nice pot of this for myself and the designer as we’re putting the finishing touches on the place. The smooth caramel flavors are slowly trickling in, getting us in the right mood to get ’er done!

2 tsp for 12 oz.

Wow, this is tasty! It tastes like a Yunnan Dian Hong to me. Smooth.

I’m not familiar with any other Golden Monkey teas, I should try some others.

Thanks to Ashmanra for this sample. I can definitely pick up the honey notes and slight malt flavor….No sugar is needed. No milk.

I have always liked Adagios Golden Monkey but perhaps this is as good or better.

Matt’s reaction can be viewed here => http://steepster.com/REDKEG/posts/60311#comments

Brewed in Huge Glass Teapot