Golden Monkey

Tea type
Black Tea
Ingredients
Not available
Flavors
Caramel
Sold in
Not available
Caffeine
Not available
Certification
Not available
Edit tea info Last updated by looseTman
Average preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 45 sec 11 oz / 339 ml

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75 Tasting Notes View all

  • “So naturally sweet and caramelicious! The first steep was a darker, chewy caramel, and this second one is sweeter and yes, milky – in that coating in your mouth sort of way. I used 200 degree water...” Read full tasting note
    93
  • “The first steep is bold, smooth and stout – a great wake-up type tea (yes, it is 2pm but I do need to wake up). Honestly though, I’m looking forward to the 2nd and hopefully 3rd steep on this one....” Read full tasting note
    92
  • “I finally get to try this infamous tea that many have been raving about here on Steepster (And Across the Globe) as it IS an award-winner! This cup is possible because of SoccerMom…thanks...” Read full tasting note
    95
  • “What a weekend! As some of you might have seen on the news, a good portion of Tennessee is underwater. Tennessee received more rain this last weekend than the TOTAL COMBINED precipitation for the...” Read full tasting note
    90

From Teas Etc

2/2/14 Update:
This tea is discontinued.
Teas Etc. now offers Golden Monkey Superior, which is not USDA organic certified but is EU compliant.
Cost: $123.55 / Lb.
-———————-

Golden Monkey

2nd Place 2009 World Tea Championship
Signature Famous Teas – Hot Tea Class

The unique character and lingering finish is intoxicating. An exquisite USDA Certified Organic golden, black tea from southern China’s Yunnan province, the beautiful, gold twisted leaves are almost as lovely to look at as to taste.Don’t mistake this for lower grade teas of this type. This is a premium grade golden monkey that is not to be missed!

Golden Monkey Tea Type: Black Tea

Ingredients: Organic Chinese black tea (golden monkey)

Origin of Golden Monkey : Yunnan, China

About Teas Etc View company

Direct trade quality loose leaf tea for more than a decade. World Tea Championship winners in 2008 & 2009. USDA Certified Organic. Based in US with buying office in China.

75 Tasting Notes

93
1112 tasting notes

So naturally sweet and caramelicious! The first steep was a darker, chewy caramel, and this second one is sweeter and yes, milky – in that coating in your mouth sort of way. I used 200 degree water and a 4 minute first steep time – thinking about maybe trying boiling and 5 minutes next time to see if I get more or less caramel. I didn’t get any pepper and am wondering if it’s my slightly cooler than boiling temp and shortish steep time, too. I think I was a little too conservative!! My third steep is a little weak, but still enjoyable.

I’m glad to add another amazing-with-nary-an-additive black tea to my at-work arsenal, and look forward to playing with the steep time and water temp a bit!

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 4 min, 0 sec
LENA

Mmmm I love this tea. I’m a huge fan of teas such as this one that taste of caramel and other notes without any additives.

LauraR

I did not get any pepper either. However, I really liked the chocolate and caramel notes and actually prefer my Golden Monkey without them. I will drink a ‘plain’ Yunnan when I want the spice/peppery finish.

JacquelineM

LauraR – Do you have a plain Yunnan that you like a lot? I’m on the lookout! I had a sample of Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea Yunnan and I loved the combo of burnt caramel and pepper. Sadly it was a limited edition tea, and I’m looking for something else like it.

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92
911 tasting notes

The first steep is bold, smooth and stout – a great wake-up type tea (yes, it is 2pm but I do need to wake up). Honestly though, I’m looking forward to the 2nd and hopefully 3rd steep on this one. Last time, I was able to get some serious milkiness from those steeps so I’m hoping I’ll get them this time, too.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec
JacquelineM

I threw a small tin of this into my Teas etc order last night – I’m glad I did!!! :)

TeaEqualsBliss

I need a wake up too! I’m so drowsy at the moment!

RachanaC (Rachel)-iHeartTeas

gee all that tea and tired. Too crazy, so you much be right at 2000 soon. When you hit it….be sure to imagine virtual balloons falling from the ceiling and a big sign saying congratulations as a little present from me. :o)

TeaEqualsBliss

Awwwww…thanks!!!!

Auggy

JacquelineM, I picked up an ounce with my order and now I’m regretting I didn’t get a bigger package. It’s probably one of the most interesting and tasty Yunnans I’ve had. Though it does seem that the creamy taste comes in more at slightly below boiling.

Auggy

And TEB, how on earth can you be drowsy? So much tea! :)

Dan

This is a great tea.

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95
6768 tasting notes

I finally get to try this infamous tea that many have been raving about here on Steepster (And Across the Globe) as it IS an award-winner! This cup is possible because of SoccerMom…thanks Chick-a-dee!!!

The smell of it somewhat reminds me of Adagio’s Yunnan Jig…which I am a fan of. The coloring is a fairly dark brown. Oddly enough…I’m getting an after-smell of ‘french fries’ and TRUST ME…that’s NOT a bad thing! :)

The taste is very pure. Semi-bold but even. It’s a little malty. This is very, very good.

As I continue to sip this gem…I realize…this is one of those teas I have been searching for lately…craving…even!!!!

I just want to chew it…
nom, nom, nom…

ZiehZeit

Hi, great tea – I love this one too

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90
161 tasting notes

What a weekend! As some of you might have seen on the news, a good portion of Tennessee is underwater. Tennessee received more rain this last weekend than the TOTAL COMBINED precipitation for the months of May, June, and July (on average). Crazy stuff. Luckily, we did not have too much damage at our house. One bedroom window began to leak on the second day of nonstop rain…and my flowers received a thorough beating. Nothing major though, thank goodness. My office even closed its doors yesterday due to the roads being flooded…or gone. It was a nice little break filled with repairs, cleaning, TV and tea. Speaking of which…

On to the tea. I received this generous sample from SoccerMom. The leaves are quite stunning and fuzzy. The liquor is silky and finishes on a sweet note. I distinctly taste the spicy/peppery note but the malty flavor is absent. There is a slight earthy quality to the tea that I am enjoying immensely. My first cup was finished rather quickly, but the second steep cooled to room temperature. Both steeps were unique and pleasurable. I’m sure I could squeeze out a third steep, but it’s almost time to head home from the office. Yay! I might have to pick up where I left off today. This is a great tea to have on constant standby.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 30 sec
wombatgirl

Thank goodness! I was thinking about you the other day, watching the news. I’m so glad you and your house are ok.

Rabs

I’m so glad that you’re okay! I guess I didn’t realize you were in TN. I used to visit my brother in Spring Hill quite often until he moved away. I hope that you and your place remain safe and sound! ::hugs::

gmathis

I’m having trouble getting my jaws to re-hinge after looking at the downtown Nashville footage…when I’m in TN for writers’ conferences, we stay just blocks uphill—some of our regular evening eatin’ places are submerged. Just plain sad!

Which reminds me … there was a neat little tea house in Dickson TN .. Miss Mabel’s maybe? that I visited with a friend. So cool, but I understand it is now closed. Did you ever get to visit?

SoccerMom

Lena, I am glad to hear you and your family and home are good. ;)

Angrboda

i heard on the news you got a monsoon. i’, glad uyou haven’t drowned or foloate awau or so,ething, :)

LENA

Thank you everyone for the well wishes. I’m very lucky to be in a dry area. The looting of the flooded neighborhoods has already started…but cops are quickly arresting them. It’s really sad.

@ gmathis – No, I never made it to the Dickson shop. I’m worried about Franklin Tea…they are right on the square of “Historic Downtown Franklin”. I heard that area is mostly underwater.
@ Angrboda – Thank you for commenting even though you have a hurt finger. Your typing made me laugh. :)

wombatgirl

Ack! No! Not Franklin Tea! I like them!

gmathis

Another Nashville tea room I enjoyed was (I think … I’m always the passenger so I don’t pay much attention to where I am) the Savannah Tea Room; you get to pick your own china cup. It’s far enough from downtown area I’d guess it’d be OK.

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84
429 tasting notes

Sigh, this tea is almost gone and such an excellent tea. Smooth with caramel notes and so easy to drink. I wonder how much the golden monkeys get paid to pick it.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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99
4843 tasting notes

Backlog:

Amazing! This month’s steepster select box is the best box that I’ve received from Steepster Select (and I’ve been a subscriber from the start).

This golden monkey is fabulous. Even better than fabulous. One of the very best black teas I’ve yet to taste. Definitely earning its 100 rating from me.

LOVE!

TeaBrat

oh no! I just subscribed and I missed the best one yet – BAH!

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98
158 tasting notes

Steepsterrrrrrr. I miss and love you.

I have been on a tea-buying hiatus, and as such am not writing tasting notes, while I feverishly try to dispose of (read: drink) a rather remarkable surplus of tea in my cabinet.

However, I needed to write something today to give people a heads-up. Anyone near NYC ought to be aware of the following:

“Harney & Sons in SoHo, 433 Broome Street (between Crosby and Broadway), will pour free cups of tea and hold discussions with experts about the culture at tea this weekend. On Saturday, James Norwood Pratt, author of “Tea Dictionary,” will speak about tea between 4 and 6 p.m. On Sunday, John and Michael Harney join the discussion and guests can sip tea before a screening of the documentary “The Meaning of Tea” at 7 p.m.”

If I were closer to NYC than Cambridge, I would totally go!

Also, my cup of golden monkey was delicious this morning. ;) And now, back to the trenches of my word processor!

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81
807 tasting notes

So after a day of Cotton Candy which have I mentioned is MARVELOUS .. I really just needed to get back to the basics..the roots…the taste of something not so sticky sweet but really top notch NUM. I hate the way that sounds because my day with Cotton Candy was delightful and I struggle to find the right way to say this without diminishing how wonderful CC was but I just needed something on the totally opposite end of the tasting spectrum. Now I will say this cuppa is also sweet – but in such a different way. Oh I am tired and only having this caffeine now because I am waiting on my 18 year old son to get here from his place for an early apportionment he has to be at in the morning in town here – he is 20 minutes away.
Long story longer huh? Anyway I guess he forgets we are not all 18 anymore and need rest! Then again if I had not had my schedule change recently I would be ready to keep rockin at this hour. ANYWAYYYYYY
this tea is so delightful….creamy….milky….sweet….brothy….malty….most keywords have been spoken for in other reviews. A hint of honey and maybe chocolate? Maybe. So tired….but this is just what I needed to keep rollin until the “young adult” gets here.
Thanks Steepster Select for including this gem in your monthly package!

Indigobloom

this sounds yummy!!
I wish I had “18” year old energy again!

Azzrian

Me too!!!!

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100
230 tasting notes

Sipdown!

I finished the Golden Monkey I had in my stash this morning and drank it on the way to work. I do love this tea. It has such a nice sweetness.

What other golden monkey teas have you tried and liked?

ashmanra

Harney – LOVE, Teavana – meh, Teavivre – LOVE.

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92
141 tasting notes

Thank you LiberTEAS for this wonderful sample!

There is not much to add to the many others that have commented on this great tea. Plain and simple, it is a very delicious and delightful tea!

This tea is very smooth, even if you decide to steep it a couple extra minutes (of which I tried and found no strong bitterness; only a continued satisfying richness).

One finding however: It seems that a shorter steeping (2mins or less) produces an Assam-like flavored liquid – so I personally recommend steeping 4mins+.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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