Golden Monkey

I enjoyed this one a lot. The first brew comes out a bit astringent, but it’s still goof, and the second round is just right.

To me this tea was very astringent and strong. I did not personally brew it so it could taste different with a lower steep time. I also has the first round so it could mellow out after the second round of brewing

This is a great workhorse of a tea. A nice light caffeine kick to get you started in the morning that is very forgiving to over/under steeping and temperature. Pairs well with bananas oddly. Re-steeping the leaves once lends itself to a very similar flavor as the first, but the third you’ll notice some flavor changes and I find to be refreshing. I wouldn’t recommend any further than three, as it becomes tea colored water, but no off-taste is extracted so I do it occasionally if I just want something warm. It is not an exciting tea, or particularly unique, but it does what it does very well and I was content to reach for it.
Like a good golden, the smell and taste of hay is at the forefront. A very light sweetness, I would describe as malt, and low acidity makes this an excellent choice for those that take their tea without milk or sugar.
Here’s the thing – at $10 an ounce, this is an expensive tea. I don’t think it lives up to the price point, even internally. the Indonesian Gold I got at the same time is very similar and almost half as expensive.

I’m bewildered by the sour notes I’m picking up in this tea. I don’t know, maybe it’s too sophisticated for me. Save your money and buy Verdant Tea’s Laoshan Black instead.

Finished this off at work. Decent malty black that did well at work. Not one I’d restock as I have other teas at home that taste better and were cheaper. I try to avoid giving Teavana any money for tea.

Their gravity steepers are awesome though!

I love this tea. Really smooth and rich, but not too heavy.

EDIT: This tea is EVERYTHING. Love. Love. Love. I’ve tried 2 other ‘golden monkey’ loose leaf teas from other retailers and so far this one is the smoothest. It’s near impossible for me to over-brew, this never turns bitter on me, and carries a lot of flavor through several steepings. Love it so hard.

It is definitely like an English Breakfast tea just without that taste. You know that taste (or aftertaste) I’m talking about. Just smoother.

Another sample from a friend. I love the scent of it…reminds me very much of the Japanese onion soup I love at the local hibachi, for some bizarre reason. Earthy, I guess! Taste is smooth and malty, with that hint of wet earth so apparent in the scent. Would definitely drink again, but would like to check out other brands as I hear there is better golden monkey for the price. Still, a nice cup!

I wasn’t very impressed but it wasn’t bad. Just fell a little flat for me.

My favorite black tea. It brews a dark brown. A nice, smooth, “straight black tea” scent. Flavor is very strong – malty with a bit of chocolate. I recommend letting it cool off a bit before enjoying; some of the more subtle flavors make their way out.

I refrain from giving it a score of 100 simply because this tea can be a bit on the strong side (and watering it down simply kills the flavor). I drink it to wake up in the morning, but usually choose something lighter for the afternoon and evening. I also noticed that my most recent batch had a slightly different flavor than the last batch – not quite as malty, and maybe a little smoky?