Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: thepuriTea
Product Description:
Don’t be fooled by the name – White Monkey is actually a green tea. Its flavorful young buds are hand-plucked and processed on the famous Taimu Mountains of Fujian, China. The abundance of white “buds” (very young, tender leaves) gives it its unusual name. Although White Monkey is a rare and nuanced tea that’s sure to appeal to serious green tea drinkers, it has a clean, sweet taste that makes it a fantastic introduction to premium green tea for newer tea drinkers. Notes of fresh fruit, sweet spices and cocoa are balanced with a classic green tea astringency and grassiness. A complex, lingering and remarkably refreshing aftertaste makes this tea incredibly easy to drink while providing the layers and depth that tea connoisseurs demand in a great green tea.
Taster’s Review:
This is an extraordinary green tea. The leaves are very small and light green in color. I can even see the tiny buds!
The flavor is very light, crisp and clean. Very sweet, but not in a cloying way. The above description suggests “notes of fresh fruit, sweet spices and cocoa” – and that is pretty much right on the money. I can taste the fruity notes, the hint of spice and even the cocoa notes. The cocoa was especially surprising for me, because they are pretty unusual for a green tea.
There are also hints of a nutty flavor in this cup … or is that nutmeg? I don’t get a lot of grassy flavor from this, but there are whispers of it in the background. I love sipping this tea, it is full of intrigue and complexity.
A truly beautiful tea experience awaits those who drink this tea. It is definitely one of the best green teas I’ve ever had the opportunity to try. I can’t sing it’s praises enough – it is such a treasure! I recommend it to all tea lovers out there. I also recommend steeping this one in a gaiwan for the best flavor – but strain very carefully as the leaves are tiny, even when they unfurl.
