Drink of the Week: Tao of Tea’s Golden Monkey Black Tea

Back in grade school, I’d religiously drink big-brand bags of English Breakfast tea. I’d microwave the water to oblivion and furiously dunk the bag in and out of the mug. Then I’d dump spoonfuls of sugar and milk into the tea. Now that those days are long gone, I’ve taken a liking to black teas that offer more delicacy, like Tao of Tea’s Golden Monkey. 

Golden Monkey, which comes from China’s Fujian and Yunnan provinces, is characterized by its needle-shaped tea leaves’ mesmerizing “golden” hue. The tea itself is unlike anything I had experienced in my previous cups of breakfast tea. Delicate and nuanced, the leaves produce a mellow, natural honey-like sweetness with a light, toasted flavor and aroma. With such a short three-minute brewing time, I’m also surprised by the tea’s heavily syrupy body.

Golden Monkey has opened my eyes to a world of black tea that isn’t typically assertive. Instead, it gently awakens you, allowing you to appreciate the subtle complexity black teas can showcase. $15/3.5 oz., taooftea.com

And for more breakfast teas, check out this 5 to Try.