Golden Monkey from Tea N Joy. . . .

Today’s tea sample is from a company called Tea N Joy. I’ve never tried teas from this tea company before, so I’m excited to see how it goes! This should be fun!
So I steeped this tea for around 2.5 minutes, using a heaping 1/2 tbsp and 10 oz of near-boiling water. It started to give off a nice malty smell right away.
I should describe the tea leaves, too; they’re big, well-defined, long twisty thin leaves with gold tips! Wonderful. They look very high-quality. I love it when my tea has entire tea leaves in it, especially when they’re this beautiful! According to Tea ‘N Joy’s website, it’s because only the very tip of each growing sprig is used in this tea; only the bud and one adjacent leaf.
As the tea steeps, it gains a rich, full fragrance with a slight edge to it and lovely chocolate notes.The tea liquid itself is a darkish copper-amber color.
First sip: Sweet, malty, and pleasant. In fact, it’s so sweet that I’d say it almost has a honey-like flavor. And, as the fragrance implied, it also has strong cocoa notes, not just while steeping but also while sipping.

 

Tea ‘N Joy’s website claims that this is a super-high-quality tea, and I tend to totally agree with that assessment. In fact, I’m tempted to place an order right now just so I can continue enjoying a premium-quality cup of this tea on a regular basis. <3

 


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Black
Where to Buy:  Tea N Joy
Description

Golden Monkey Tea is hand-processed each spring with a careful plucking of only one leaf and one bud. It is among the finest Chinese Black Teas available today. A rich, full-bodied Tea. The name comes from its unique appearance: the leaves resemble monkey claws. Sweet and very ‘nosy’ with the aromas of: savory roasted apples, cocoa and spice notes that linger as you sip. Rich, coating texture and very smooth, soft mouth-feel. Delicate, almost indistinguishable astringency.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Organic China Oolong from Whittard of Chelsea

Organic China Oolong from Whittard of Chelsea
Organic China Oolong from Whittard of Chelsea

Tea Information:

Leaf Type: Oolong

Where to Buy: Whittard of Chelsea 

Tea Description:

A truly superb robust Oolong from the Fujian Province with a honeyed sweetness.

Delicate floral Oolongs are between a black and green tea. This long leafed organic tea comes from the Wu Yi gardens of the Fujian Province. It is stronger than most Oolong tea due to higher roasting and longer fermentation. The dark smoky taste of the tea balances perfectly with sweet honey notes. Served after a rich meal, traditionally one would exhale after each sip, savouring the ‘Hui Gan’; the teas lingering sweetness.

Great Taste Awards judges love it too – “This tea produces a liquor of good color and great clarity.”

Packed in an environment where nuts are handled.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Oh yes, this is an oolong after my heart! Organic China Oolong from Whittard of Chelsea has every bit of that smokiness I adore in a dark oolong and a berry sweet note that drives me wild! The aroma alone is intoxicating, I would wear this as perfume, not that it tastes like perfume at all but it smells so dreamy!

The notes of woods, deep smokiness, sweet honeyed tones like caramelized berries, I could go on and on but I want to get to the way this tea tastes!

I have to say I am so pleased by SororiTea Sister LiberTeas sent me a nice baggie full of this stuff! Thank you Anne!

The cup steeps into an amber vision of beauty with a clear view to the bottom of the cup. The first note I pick up is a light honey note, with a backdrop of maple, and wood. This is a very sweet cup considering its dark smoked nature.

There is not much of a rock mineral note in this, some but not as much as I have experienced in other Wuyi tea, but there is a slight saltiness, which reminds me of salted caramel which I love.

Don’t think of the smoked note as you would a Lapsang Souchong though, its not smoky like that, its just a deep woodsy richness you would get from a toasted marshmallow, far sweeter than any smokiness from a Lapsang Souchong tea.

I also get a brandied candied flavor in the tea, a brothy sensation in the mouthfeel that is welcoming and warming.

This tea does not really conjure up feelings of sitting by a campfire as much as it does feelings of walking in the deep woods sipping a hardy grog from a chalice or a canteen perhaps. It makes me feel more like Robin Hood than Roy Rodgers!

This one goes on my shopping wish list but for now I have a generous sampling from my sister Anne!

Yay!

Tie Guan Yin (Iron Buddha) from Driftwood Tea

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Driftwood Tea

Tea Description:

Fujian Province, China – Spring 2012 Harvest

Tie Guan Yin or Iron buddha is perhaps China’s most famous Oolong. We sourced this handmade version from a small farm in Anxi County, in China’s Fujian Province, and believe this to be one of the finest Tie Guan Yins, or even teas, any of us at driftwood.

Tie Guan Yin is another tea that, depending on where you are, is know by many different names including: Iron Buddha; Iron Goddess of Mercy; Ti Kwan Yin and several others. However, what remains constant is the fact that this tea is among China’s finest, and probably its most well known oolong – no matter what it’s called.

Key Flavours: A sweet honey note, lively florals with a smooth buttery finish.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Driftwood Tea delivers with a delightful aromatic cup of sweet buttery goodness. Steeped this tea is a bright lively golden cup that is very light in color yet full in mouthfeel. There is almost a heaviness in the mouth but the flavor is light and creamy at the same time. Amazing how both can be elements in one wonderful tea. I would never usually describe something buttery or creamy as bright or light. Its such a cheery tea – a real mood lifter.

This tea however is not just a cup of creamy buttery goodness. There is far more depth to this tea, layers of flavor, including floral elements that are not perfume like. There are notes of honeysuckle that remind me of my youth, picking the honeysuckle flowers and sucking out the gooey nectar inside. There is also a note of sweet green veggies.

The lingering after taste is my favorite element in this tea. It is sweet but has savory elements that are outstanding.

It is quite a refreshing cup as well once the after taste does wear off it does not leave you with a drying sensation in the mouth or throat whatsoever.

For me, this is not my absolute favorite oolong, as I like one that is a bit heavier and more roast-y but it is a very good quality oolong that I will enjoy revisiting.

Organic Golden Monkey Black Tea from auraTeas

Tea Type: Black

Where To Buy: auraTeas

Product Description:

Organic Golden Monkey Black Tea

有機金毛猴

Price: CAD$3.50

10g Mini Bag
0.36oz
4-6 servings
Stock: 3

Price: CAD$9.5040g canister
1.4oz
20-22 servings
Stock: 5

Price: CAD$17.5075g Bag
2.68oz
37-42 servings
Stock: 6

Price: CAD$18.00

75g canister
2.68oz
37-42 servings
Stock: 6

TB0401
Organic Golden Monkey Black Tea
(Jin Mao Ho)
Organically grown

Origin: Wuyishan, Fujian, China 武夷山‧福建‧中國
Style: Fully oxidized, full bodied, light roasted, fruit aroma
Loose leaf style: Slender tightly curled
Loose leaf color: Brown and gold
Wet leaf style: Crimson
Tea color: Golden Crimson
Certification: USDA, BCS, JAS certified organic

Golden Monkey is one of Wuyi Yen Cha (Wuyi Rock Tea, grown in spaces between mountain rocks) originated in Wuyi area of Fujian Province, China. It is one of the finest black tea from China. Golden Monkey tea is a mix of brown tea leaves and gold new buds, only hand processed in spring. Local legend says its name came from the monkeys help to harvest tea leaves grown in the crevices between rocks; modern interpretation is that the leaves look like monkey claws. Golden Monkey is full bodied with natural sweetness and fruity aroma, fully oxidized and light roasted. It is recommended to taste it without sugar and milk, you may open another door to black tea.

Brewing:
Golden Monkey Black Tea is in slender twisted shape, the volume is larger than other black tea. Thus we need about 1.5 tsp of loose tea for 120cc(4oz) 90℃-95℃(190F-203F) water. Steam about 1 min for the first brew to unroll the leaves, 30 seconds for the second brew, and dboule the timing for the following brews. Provides 3 or more infusions. The tea leaves need to be fully expanded in the container, remember not to put too much loose tea to avoid over packed and bitterness.
Once you get familiar with the tea, you may explore your tea by adjusting brewing time and loose tea amount.

Teaware:
Gaiwan, bone China, porcelain teaware, or glassware

Tasters Review:

Every Time I think of Golden Monkey or Monkey Picked type teas I can’t help but think of those Monkey-Creatures in the Wizard of Oz Movie that swoop down…I mean REALLY…wouldn’t THAT be a sight to see!?  THOSE Monkeys swooping down to earth to pick TEA!?

Anyhow…just had to share that with you…I guess it just goes to saw you how odd my thought patterns can be sometimes.  On to the tea notes, eh!?

Organic Golden Monkey Black Tea from auraTeas is a lighter, less bold Golden Monkey but also very smooth and tasty.  It’s semi chewy and very nice both hot and/or cold!

Have you ever had a strange association with a specific tea that only YOU would think of?  Let us know in comments…

Golden Monkey Tea from Georgia Tea Company

Leaf Type: Black

Where To Buy: Georgia Tea Company

Company Description:

Black tea from the Fujian province of China. Golden Monkey tea is hand-processed each spring with a careful plucking of only one leaf and one bud. It is among the finest Chinese black teas available today. The name comes from its unique appearance: the leaves resemble monkey claws. If you enjoy full-bodied teas with an abundance of flavor, we urge you to give this tea a try.

Golden Monkey tea hails from the Fujian province of China, one of its most prolific. This region accounts for one-fifth of China’s total tea output. And the high quality of its teas keeps them in high demand. This region’s exports of tea account for a quarter of the country’s total. Fujian teas benefits from an excellent climate, combining mild temperatures, abundant rainfall and mountainous terrain. It has a long history of cultivating tea: over one-thousand years.

Taster Review:

Over the past month I have been fortunate enough to try several teas from Georgia Tea Company and I have to say I have enjoyed my tea tasting experiences immensely.  Their customer service is TOP NOTCH and the aroma of their teas are out of this world.  Nearly everything I have tried I have been anywhere from pleasantly surprised to completely blown away with the wonderful taste!

Today I would like to tell you about Golden Monkey from Georgia Tea Company.  I used to LOVE Adagio’s Fuijan Baroque and Adagio’s Yunnan Jig and I still do…but…Georgia Tea Company’s Golden Monkey seems to be the taste of both crammed into one tea but even BETTER.

Their Golden Monkey has a cakey and chewy goodness to it…malty and bold.  The taste lingers long after your sip is complete.  I found myself longing for that next sip and after my cup was gone thinking about another.