I finally sipped down my last Chinese black that I was using as my morning daily drinker (Adagio’s Yunnan Noir) so it was time to move another bag over to the Sipdown Corner™. Lately I’ve been trying to target my very old pure teas (Dazzle Deer, What-cha, Rishi) so I grabbed this 50g bag from Dazzle Deer to be my next daily drinker. I have had Golden Monkey in the past (from Teavivre, not sure if this one comes from the same source or not) and really enjoyed it, so I’m looking forward to the next month or so it’ll take me to work through this bag.
I’m drinking out of a work thermos and don’t want to open it up to stick my nose into the brew, but the tea is warm and satisfying, with lots of flavor notes even brewed up Western style for thermos treatment before work. I’m getting malt, baked bread, orange, orange zest, a hint of smokiness that on the malty/tangy orange base is making me think of a sweet BBQ sauce, sweet potato, and a subtle hint of floral rose toward the end of the sip. A slight cocoa flavor is left lingering on my tongue between sips. Despite being three years old and the best-by date having already passed, this is still quite flavorful, smooth, and delicious.
Flavors: Bread, Cocoa, Floral, Fruity, Malt, Orange, Orange Zest, Rose, Smoke, Smooth, Sweet Potatoes, Umami