golden monkey

“ Golden Monkey tea garners appreciation for its rich and complex flavors, evoking a range of sensory experiences from reviewers. Many celebrate its malty, cocoa notes and smooth mouthfeel, with hints of dark chocolate, roasted apple, and earthy undertones adding to its allure. While some note occasional bitterness and astringency, adding sweetener or milk is recommended to enhance its taste. Variations between batches fascinate enthusiasts, as they explore how each year's harvest influences the tea's flavor profile. This tea, often embraced for multiple infusions, is praised for being a comforting, full-bodied brew, making it a favorite among many. Its layered flavors and aromatic qualities make Golden Monkey a distinguished choice in the realm of black teas, beloved for both its classic taste and the unique nuances each cup brings. ”

“ Review for: 1/23/23~ My palate has changed, in the past few months.. and I appreciate this type of tea moreso! I can pick up on the Roasted Apple lingering note vibe, on the palate! I absolutely love Golden Monkey, now! ”

“ Update 19 Nov 2024 - New batch - 212º, 5 min, ½ tsp. honey, splash milk
Ah, the tea I love is back in my stash! Malty, chocolatey, smooth with a touch of earthiness - just yum!

Update 9/8/22 - New batch - 212°, 5 min., ½ tsp. honey, splash milk -
Savory, malty, chewy, no smoke this time but a definite taste of dark chocolate instead, followed by a small astringency that lingers. I'm starting to appreciate how each year's batch differs from previous editions. It's interesting to see how each of the components of taste change in sometimes subtle and sometimes major ways! I like this year's batch and will order more.

Update Sep 21, 2021: This batch of Golden Monkey is a bit more astringent than previous batches, but it's still my favorite. Brewed at about 200° F for 5 minutes and with a half teaspoon of honey and a splash of milk makes for a delightful cuppa!

Update 2020: My latest purchase of Golden Monkey (1 pound - I do love it!) doesn’t have as robust a taste as I wrote about earlier. It still has all the flavor notes I mentioned (see below) but they aren’t as strong. Maybe I had gotten fresher batches before? Nevertheless, Golden Monkey is still my favorite.

Earlier comments:
I brew two infusions of Golden Monkey every morning. Each infusion is for two cups / two teaspoons at 212° F. The second is a re-steeping of the first infusion's leaves, but five minutes longer; again, at 212°. The resultant brews are all a dark amber color and have a very light scent of apples and cedar. The steepings for the first day's infusions were for five minutes and eight minutes. As the tea cools, a savory, malty, full-mouthed, roasted flavor developes, with a hint of smoke. It brings up a memory sensation of a fire going in the fireplace on a cold, wet afternoon - a very comforting feeling. I like the malty taste with just a hint of smoke. I found the best formulation for me was two cups/teaspoons steeped for five minutes at 212° F with a dollop of milk and a half teaspoon of honey added, then left to cool a few minutes. Then all the taste tones came through without any astringency. ”

“ 212f for 3min. This has an interesting fruity smell and the taste is malty and rounded. I'm really excited about this discovery. ”

“ Golden Monkey is a delicious black tea. I found it to have a lovely and mulilayered flavor with subtle notes of cocoa and fruit. It's a bit malty tasting too and has a similar smoothness and soft mouth feel much like some of the darker oolongs I enjoy which is surprising for a black tea.

My Ct packet had 3 g. of slender dark brown twig like tea leaves with a tangy aroma. Brewed 10 oz. at 212*F for 3 min. to yield a tawny brown liquor with a pleasant mineral aroma. I sweetened the tea with agave to elevate the different flavor notes it has and enhance its natural sweetness. This was a smooth sip with very little astringency that I could notice which is unusual for a black tea. That is what makes it so special. Its flavorful, naturally sweet and easy to sip and resteeps very well. I'll always have a fondness for this special black tea with a wonderful flavor all its own! ”

“ Golden Monkey offers an enjoyable unaltered tea experience. It's cocoa and malty notes stand out and are complemented by a subtle natural sweetness. It is neither as rich nor as delicate as some of Adagio's other Yunnan offerings, but it still yields a more indulgent tea experience than the average Ceylon. I did not detect any of the bitterness that others have noted. Instead, I found the tea to be quite smooth and sweet enough on its own without the addition of any sweeteners. (3+ minutes @ 212F) ”