Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Georgia Tea Company
Tea 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. It has a very smooth flavor and brews a golden brown.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is LOVELY! Of the many pure black teas out there, if I had to choose but one to drink for the rest of my life, I think that a Fujian tea like this Golden Monkey Black Tea from Georgia Tea Company would definitely be in the running for that one tea.
I love the rich, full flavor of this Golden Monkey. It has a strong malty tone with notes of cacao and a delectable caramel-y undertone. Mmm! It is sweet and delicious (and cozy!) but it also has the kind of GUSTO that I look for in a black tea. It’s invigorating enough to get me going when I’m looking for that nudge to wake.
The astringency here is what I’d categorize as mild to moderate. There is a slight – very slight! – bitter intonation to this cup which suggests to me that perhaps I brewed it a tad too long (3 minutes) and so it is advisable to watch the steep time with this tea. Next time, I’ll go with 2 1/2 minutes for a smoother cup.
Overall, a very delicious cup of tea.
Wuyishan Black Tea from Steepster
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Steepster Select
Tea Description:
A rare and innovative black tea from Fujian, China. Sweet and smooth with notes of caramel and sour cherry. Unlike traditional black tea, our Wuyishan Black is made from oolong varietals. This unorthodox method imbues our Wuyishan with complex fruit aromatics and a deep flavor that reveals itself through multiple infusions.
Read other Steepster thoughts on this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Wuyishan Black Tea from Steepster is AWESOME! Of the five teas that were featured in December’s Steepster Select box, this one is definitely my favorite. I love the smoky tones to this, as well as the caramel-y undertone and the hints of fruit in the background.
I steeped this tea twice. The first infusion was rich and full-flavored. It tasted and felt smooth as it washed over the palate. A nicely round tea. The second infusion was also delightful. I found the second infusion to be less astringent, but the flavors of the tea were all intact. The second cup was more flavorful, smoother and even more delicious than the first – so it’s definitely worth the effort to resteep this tea!
I found that slurping this tea was important to aerate the tea before it hit the palate. While slurping may not sound really “polite” depending upon whose company you are keeping, it definitely improves a tea experience by allowing all the flavors in the drink to be enjoyed.
The sip begins with a smoky tone. I like the way the smoke comes through in this tea – it is smoky but not overly so. Then I notice notes of fruit that are both sweet and sour, and I like the way these notes contrast with the smokiness. The aforementioned caramel-y undertones are there from start to finish, but, I notice them less at the start and as the sip progresses, the caramel flavors develop.
A very rich and satisfying tea – this is a tea that I’d recommend to any tea connoisseur, or even a tea novice for that matter! This is a tea that everyone should try!
This tea was wonderful and made the first Steepster Select box worthwhile – and I enjoyed the other four teas too! But this one is the standout for me. It’s especially nice when served with a dark chocolate bar. (Then again, what isn’t better when served with chocolate?)
Have you signed up for Steepster Select yet? If not, you really should!
Fujian Pear White Tea Blend from Shanti Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Tea Description:
Delicate white tea with a light pear fragrance.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Fujian Pear White Tea Blend from Shanti Tea is easily one of the best tasting pear teas I’ve had the opportunity to sample. It’s sweet, juicy and very much like a ripe, delicious pear.
The white tea base is subtle and is a delightful “pear” for the delicate notes of the fruit. (Please excuse the “pun” … I couldn’t resist!) The white tea allows the softer nuances of the pear to come through and be tasted. The tea is gentle tasting, smooth and earthy.
And the pear has a very authentic, true-to-the-fruit flavor. Based on my experience as a tea reviewer as well as my experience as a tea artist, I know that the true flavor of pear is a difficult flavor to capture. It doesn’t always end up tasting “just right.” It usually ends up tasting either so sweet that it’s cloying and confectionery, or it’s so subtle that when combined with the tea, the pear notes just don’t come through in a way that it is undoubtedly pear.
But Shanti has managed to bring out the flavor of pear without sacrificing the flavor of the tea! It’s a well-crafted balance. I like this served hot best, I find that as the tea cooled, the tea notes softened somewhat and that aforementioned balance is thrown off just a bit. It’s still quite good cold, but, much tastier hot!
An exceptional pear flavored tea!
Organic White Monkey Green Tea from Kally Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Kally Tea
Tea Description:
Organic green tea with white downy tips. Chinese green tea grown on the slopes of the Taimu mountains in the Fuijian province of China.
A light cup with a slightly natural sweetness from the green tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I opened the pouch of this Organic White Monkey Green Tea from Kally Tea, I could smell the vegetative notes immediately, along with a sweet note, and a hint of floral notes in the background. It smelled really lovely, like a sunny spring morning.
The flavor I first noticed with my first sip was a sweet, nutty note. Having tried a few White Monkey teas in the past, I found myself trying to recall if I normally experienced a nutty flavor. The aroma of the dry leaf suggests a somewhat leafy or grassy taste, but, it’s not there. I don’t get a strong “vegetal” note here. In fact, I think that this would be an excellent tea for those who are new to green tea and just a little bit intimidated by the grassy taste of some other green teas out there.
The floral notes are also not as pronounced as I expected them to be. Instead, I’m tasting a sweet, buttery and nutty flavor at the start of the sip. When I slurp the sip, I even pick up on some hints of cacao! Lovely!
Overall, this is a pleasant, delicate tasting tea. Toward the finish, I notice a slight fruity note – it is sweet and complements the nutty tones well. A nice complexity, and I like that I’m not picking up on any bitterness or astringency to this. It’s just a mild, relaxing cuppa!
Shou Mei Classic White Tea from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
This fine selection from Fujian province boasts a delicate herbaceous aroma, full flavor, and clean finish. The well-balanced cup has a subtle sweetness with delicate walnut flavor nuances.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I don’t drink as many white teas as I do other tea types, and I’m not sure if that’s because I don’t find as many “unique” white teas out there, or if it’s just because I prefer other tea types over white tea. But I do certainly enjoy white teas … especially later in the afternoon and early evening … when I’m starting to wind down. I find the flavor of a white tea to be calming. The gentle, delicate notes relax me.
And this Shou Mei Classic White Tea from Upton Tea Imports produces a perfect calming, relaxing cuppa.
The flavor is soft and sweet, with vegetative notes. I usually call white tea’s vegetative qualities “hay-like” and that description suits this tea well too. There is a warm, nutty quality to this cup, as the above notes from Upton suggest … it is almost like a walnut-type note. I don’t know that what I’m tasting here is walnut … but it is nutty and pleasant.
The finish is subtle and there is very little noticeable astringency to this cup. The aftertaste is a barely-there whisper of sweetness that lingers on the palate.
Overall, a really pleasing Shou Mei.