Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Tea Description:
Black tea from the Fujian province of China. Golden Monkey tea is hand-processed each spring with careful plucking of only one leaf and one bud. The name comes from its unique appearance: the leaves resemble monkey paws. Sweet and very ‘nosy’: savory roasted apples, cocoa and spice notes that linger as you sip. Rich, coating texture and very smooth, soft mouthfeel. Delicate, almost indistinguishable astringency.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
A beautiful golden tea, the dry leaf has colors that range from a pale gold to a warm chocolate tone. And … if I were to describe the flavor, I might offer the same description: golden notes of apple, warm notes of spice and a lovely, lingering cocoa note. And it is those chocolate-y notes that makes golden teas like this Golden Monkey from Adagio Teas a treasure.
This is deliciously sweet. When I read the description, I wondered about the apple note … I don’t think I’ve ever had a golden monkey that I tasted a distinguished apple note … or perhaps I just didn’t identify it as such, instead I labeled it as a fruit note. But as I sip this, yes, indeed, it does have an apple note, and it’s quite a clear apple-y flavor. Quite nice.
The spice tones are subdued but warm … it doesn’t really taste “peppery” or “vibrant” or any of those other grandiloquent words I often use to describe teas. It is really quite a mellow spice note, but, it adds an interesting dimension to the overall cup.
But it is the chocolate note that I love … and it is the chocolate note that will make this Golden Monkey memorable. It lingers sweetly on the palate, and as I allow myself to enjoy the cocoa flavor, I also notice a hint of caramel hiding just beneath the bittersweet chocolate. Lovely!
I am not always overly excited about Adagio Teas, but this one is definitely worth trying. One of the best teas I’ve tried from this company.
Monkey Picked (Ma Liu Mie) Tie Guan Yin Oolong from Teavivre
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
Using Taiwan autumn tea as material, this Monkey Picked Tie Guanyin carefully selected by TeaVivre is baked slowly by soft fire (the baking process falls into three steps and every step lasts two minutes). The degree of fermentation is 100 percent so that the dried tea can keep a long-lasting fragrance. After brewing, the smell of honey peach and the baked flavor can be perfectly appreciated and the beverage tastes gorgeously smooth.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Have I mentioned how much I love Teavivre lately?
The reason is simple: they never cease to amaze me with their spectacular teas. The quality is exceptional and the flavor is stunning. This Tie Guan Yin exemplifies those words very clearly, this is truly an astonishing cup of tea!
The aroma of the dry leaf is quite intriguing, it smells a bit like roasted peaches that have been drenched with honey before being roasted. I can smell a slight char, the sweet fruit which has been intensified by the extreme temperatures of the roast, and the beautiful honey notes that offer hints of flower. Delightful!
The fragrance of the brewed tea is a bit different – I still smell hints of what I experienced with the dry leaf, but, now I smell more notes that are indicative of a Tie Guan Yin: sweet and vegetative … but there are still lingering notes of that charred, roasted aroma.
And, how I am loving the taste of this Oolong! It tastes so sweet. There are notes of toasted nuts in the background, along with a richness that is almost like browned butter. Yes, browned butter that has been drizzled over steamed greens. And deliciously peachy and honey-esque. Layers and layers of intense flavor.
As I continue to sip, and make my way into later infusions, I notice hints of vanilla. The peach notes emerge stronger in the later infusions, as the toasty notes seem to soften.
A delicious tea that tantalizes the taste buds with notes that are both sweet and savory – and a joy to imbibe!
Golden Monkey Superior Organic from Teas Etc.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Teas Etc.
Tea Description:
The unique character and lingering finish is intoxicating. An exquisite USDA Certified Organic golden, black tea from southern China’s Fujian 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!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
After last month’s less than exciting box of teas from Steepster Select, I was actually contemplating canceling my subscription. I am glad I didn’t! This month’s box, appropriately themed “Best Buds,” more than makes up for the disappointing selections of last month’s box.
This box not only included this astounding Golden Monkey – quite possibly the best I’ve tasted of this type of tea – but also a yellow tea selection (my favorite type of tea!) and a silver needle! Wow! Bravo, Steepster!
Unlike what I’d call a “tippy” golden tea – which tends to be mostly dark leaves with tips of gold – every single leaf of this tea is beautifully golden in color, with striations tan and brown. Gorgeous!
But even more beautiful than the color of the dry leaf is the flavor of the brewed tea. This is amazingly good. The flavor is rich and exceptionally smooth. There are notes of malt which meld deliciously with the sweet honey caramel-y undertone. Slightly earthy, with a juicy peach note that emerges as I continue to sip. This is so pleasantly sweet, without a note of bitterness to be found, and only a slight astringency which cleanses the palate slightly, allowing it to enjoy an aftertaste that is quite honey-esque.
Easily one of the best black teas I’ve yet to taste. I highly recommend it to anyone … even those who aren’t fond of tea. I think this one could change their mind.
Wild Monkey Marsala from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Product Description:
Here it is at last! The Wild Monkey Marsala Tea, a wickedly zesty tea that comes from our wine-infused group. There are several spicy teas available from Red Leaf Tea, and we think that this may be the most exotic one of all! We begin with a strong Chinese black tea and then add a heavy dose of cinnamon to that sweet and rosy brew. We finish this complement of dominant flavors with the powerful musty sweetness of an infusion of marsala wine. It all balances out perfectly, with the marsala melding into the black tea and the cinnamon lending a peppery effect. Let the Wild Monkey into your tea service today!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I was a little worried about this tea prior to tasting, but, it really is quite tasty. I think that it is the wine. While I’ve enjoyed almost all of the alcohol-infused teas that I’ve tried, I am always a little apprehensive; I’m not big on strong alcohol flavors. Fortunately, it’s been my experience that the flavor of the alcohol compliments the tea flavor, and it is the flavor of the tea that prevails. And that is the case here, too.
The aroma of the dry leaf is a bit unusual, but certainly not unpleasant. The sweet, fruity scent of the Marsala wine is apparent, and the cinnamon is quite strong. It smells sweet, spicy and rather intriguing, actually.
The flavor of the cinnamon and the Marsala wine meld together quite nicely here, the cinnamon is warm and spicy and it does have a slight peppery kind of taste to it. The Marsala wine is sweet and fruity, and the combination of the two tastes a bit like mulled cider. It doesn’t taste strongly of wine, but I can taste hints here and there that are reminiscent of wine, especially as it cools.
And the flavor of the tea is there too; it is a good, strong black tea base that creates a pleasant backdrop for the flavors of the wine and cinnamon. Together the flavors of wine, cinnamon and black tea offer a very well-rounded, smooth taste for the palate to enjoy. There isn’t a whole lot of notable astringency to this tea. The aftertaste is cinnamon-y sweet and pleasant.
I really enjoyed this tea, a delightful tea to sip on these chilly winter afternoons, as it will warm you from the inside out.
Jasmine Monkey King from Tea Licious
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Tea Licious
Product Description:
Green tea with jasmine petals.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a delightful jasmine tea – the flavor is so light and sweet. The jasmine essence here is one of the more delicate jasmines I’ve encountered. It doesn’t have a heavy flavor nor does it taste perfume-y or soapy. It is sweet and gentle.
In fact, gentle is the word I would use to describe this tea overall. The green tea does not possess a strong, grassy profile. It is fresh and soft with no bitterness and very little astringency – in fact, I only notice the astringency when I am actually focusing on finding it. Otherwise, the delivery is smooth from start to finish, with a light sweetness in the aftertaste.
This tea has a very light, crisp demeanor. There are vague hints of vegetation, but like the astringency that I mentioned previously, it is really only noticeable when I am focusing to find that vegetal taste.
This is a lovely tea, ideal for someone who has had jasmine teas in the past that were too overbearing or perfume-ish. This tea can offer a taste of the softer side of jasmine.