Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: dark and curled with some golden tips
Ingredients: black tea
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: deep brown
Golden monkey is a black tea hailing from the Fujian and Yunnan Provinces of China. Its name comes from the leaves resemblance to monkey claws. This tea was smooth and malty with a lingering, sweet aftertaste. The mild citrus and earthy cocoa notes added a nice complexity. There was very little astringency which I loved because I tend to dislike teas that are overly tannic. This would not be a tea suited to milk or sweeteners as that would likely mask its subtle nuances. I picked it up with the intention of using it to make tea sangria (which worked out great) but it has become my go to morning sip. It wakes me up without being a harsh kick in the teeth like many traditional breakfast teas. It wasn’t cheap but I was impressed with the quality of the tea. I pass by McNulty’s shop in New York City fairly often so I plan to stock up on this tea often.
You can find out more about this tea here.