Mighty Leaf – Golden Monkey

Class: Black
Origin: Fujian Provence
Crop: unspecified
Vendor: Mighty Leaf
Price: 3 oz – $14.95

9/10 “downy golden buds brew a complex liquor composed of squash, butter, pepper, and chocolate… not your average black tea”
Vendor’s Description:
Golden Monkey is a complex black tea from China’s Fujian Province with golden-tipped leaves meticulously picked by hand in the Spring. The Golden Monkey infusion opens with the aroma of autumn leaves and delivers a rich nutty flavor with a caramel finish.

Brewing Parameters:

• Gong Fu
• Water Temp: Boiling
• Rinse: 5 s

1. 10 s
2. 11 s
3. 15 s
4. 20 s
5. 1 min

Taste:

1. chocolate, squash, butter, pepper
2. peppered chocolate
3. smooth squash & chocolate body, pepper aftertaste
4. pepper topnote, buttered squash body
5. subdued woody flavor

Aroma:

1. squashy body with a peppery tinge, buttery
2. buttered squash body without a peppery tinge
3. sweet, complex honey
4. pepper topnote, chocolate body, squash finish
5. subdued woody aroma

Overall Impressions:
Contrary to popular opinion, I have always felt that the Gong Fu method greatly accentuates the diverse flavor profile of “Dian Hong” black teas (Golden Monkey is a “dian hong”). Just as I predicted, utilizing Gong Fu greatly assisted me in identifying the particular flavors composing this tea. “Dian Hong” is not like any black tea you have tried before. Whereas most black teas have a relatively simple flavor profile, the profile of “Dian Hong” is complex. If you predominately drink black tea, but wish to branch out into the world of oolongs and pu-erh, I would highly recommend trying any “dian hong” you can get your hands on.

~ by trentknebel on April 12, 2008.