FullChea - Golden Monkey Tea - Chinese Black Tea Loose Leaf with Gold Tips - Health Tea (8.8oz / 250g)

I'm new to buying Chinese whole leaf teas direct from China, but I'm really excited to take deep dives into some of the best whole leaf teas in the world at really inexpensive prices. This looked like a nice black tea to try out that wasn't very expensive for me. I believe golden monkey tea is a style of black tea made from early harvest tea leaves from Fujian and Yunnan provinces in China. Similar to silver needle white teas, but processed differently to make black teas. Golden monkey gets its name from the gold tips on these leaves. What an absolutely adorable name that's evocative of the Monkey King and his adventures in Chinese mythology and Buddhism. Here's my brewing method: - filtered water boiled to 200-212 in an electric kettle - 3g tea leaves to 3oz water, so I brewed 6g tea to 6oz water for multiple steeps (Edit: for those in the U.S. who want easier measurements, I use about 2 Tbsp of tea to 8-10 oz of water. If you want a less strong flavor, add less tea leaves.) - 5 second wash to open the leaves and remove excess bitterness and astringency, which I hate - 3-5 minute first steep - subsequent steeps brew time was just to taste, so more than 5 minutes Tea Color: clear reddish brown Top scent and flavor notes were earthy, biscuity. Mid-palate notes are sweet and slightly acidic like stone fruit. End notes are sweet and smooth like cream. I like fruit and sweet-tasting teas, so for me this golden monkey black tea is a really pleasant and drinkable breakfast black tea. And you get a TON of loose leaves in this package. So my recommendation is to brew it for strong flavor. If it doesn't hurt your wallet to buy nearly 9 oz of loose tea leaves for $14, you can stand to brew strong cups of the tea for best flavor. And since whole tea leaves can be re-steeped the same day for more great tea, you're getting great flavor and a great deal from FullChea.

Excellent black tea with a smooth, rich flavor and no bitterness. The golden tips are beautiful and the aroma is very pleasant. Brews well and tastes refined, making it perfect for daily tea or special moments. Truly high-quality loose leaf tea.

Good flavor, good tea. No stale smell or taste. I really do like it. On a scale 1 to 10, I’d say 7-8. Not a wow, but a good tea.

This black tea has a wonderful, rich flavor with no bitterness. It brews beautifully and has a smooth, well-balanced taste that’s great on its own (I always drink teas without any addictives). The aroma is inviting, color is clean like an amber, and the quality is evident from the first cup. I’ve really enjoyed drinking it and would definitely purchase again for my daily black tea.

very good flavour, I am happy with this purchase