Golden Monkey is a hand-processed black tea from the Fujian Province of China. The dried leaves are said to resemble monkey claws, which is how the name was derived (use your imagination). The tea has a very rustic appearance and flavor about it. It is full-bodied and yields an amber liquor. I’ve been steeping the tea in a Yixing clay teapot, and paying close attention to the aroma by using an aroma cup. I’m amazed how sweet the liquor smells from a fresh pour. That said, it has a rougher flavor to it. Since the scent of the brewed tea is sweet and the flavor is mellow with a dry aftertaste, it makes for a very complex black tea. In fact, it has a lot of the same flavor characteristics of a white tea from the Fujian Province. Golden Monkey is not necessarily one of my favorites, but it is very enjoyable on an occasional basis. One area that this tea really lacks is in the presentation of the tea leaves after the tea has been steeped. As you start to enjoy loose leaf tea, you start to appreciate the beauty of the tea leaves once they spring to life during the steeping process. This tea never really takes on an impressive characteristic after it is steeped. I cannot pick out the single leaf and bud that is described by Adagio.

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Cindi Bigelow shows us how to prepare a “perfect” cup of tea in this YouTube video. Bigelow Tea has produced quality tea since 1945. The company is based in Fairfield, CT. Cindi Bigelow is the Co-President of the successful family-owned tea company. Cindi Bigelow is a well-respected executive in the tea industry. Her charm and charisma makes this instructional video both entertaining and educational. 

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Honest Tea has certainly made a name for itself in the ready-to-drink (RTD) tea industry. Recently, Coca-Cola acquired a 40% stake in the company. The deal was reported as being worth $43 million (read the press release). I’m confident that the move will help strengthen Honest Beverages by giving them the resources necessary to distribute their superb products to a larger consumer base. The fact that they partnered with Coca-Cola is sure to deter some of Honest Tea’s current customers. I’m hoping to find more Honest products in my local supermarket due to this move. I still crave the Honest Ade beverage - Orange Mango with Mangosteen.

Let’s move on…Moroccan Mint Green Tea can be found in several different forms - loose leaf, tea bag, and ready-to-drink. Almost every tea supplier has a variety of this classic mix. Honest Tea’s Moroccan Mint Green Tea is one of my favorite RTD teas. First off, it is made from USDA Organic: green tea, white clover honey, peppermint leaves, and spearmint leaves. This is a very tasty combination. The mint flavors swim around in the briskness of the smoky green tea. It’s a perfect combination. The beverage is very refreshing. It has very few calories (34 calories for the entire 16 ounce bottle). Honest Tea continues to exceed the standard.

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As I drink a special Valentine’s Day blend from Adagio.com, I would like to say happy Valentine’s Day to all the marTEA blog readers. The blend I’m drinking tonight is actually very flavorful. It’s suppose to represent a chocolate-covered strawberry. I have to say, it’s not bad. Since I’m still getting over a sore throat, I added a little honey to it, which made it even better. This is just one of those flavored black teas that is great to have around when you want a little variety with your tea drinking.

Well, I hope your day is special. I can’t wait to have a Valentine’s dinner tonight with my family. My sweet wife bought me some tea for Valentine’s Day. You know you have a serious tea problem when every gift you get is tea related and you love it. Anyway, I’m very thankful to have such a great wife and family that makes everyday special.

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Gyokuro is one of the finest green teas to come from Japan. It is expensive, but it is well-worth the extra money. Gyokuro embodies all of the unique properties that makes green tea special to me. In my opinion, Gyokuro puts the “green” in green tea. This tea is for people that crave a vegetal flavor from their green tea. It all starts by protecting the tender buds from the sun about three weeks before harvesting. So, just imagine a field of tea bushes covered by straw screens to slow photosynthesis. Who’s the genius that thought of this? So many great harvesting and production techniques are created by observant farmers (accidents with a tasty outcome). Many of the famous Japanese teas have a unique characteristic that adds to the popularity of Japanese green tea. Anyway, it’s early spring and the young tea buds are artificially shaded and carefully picked during the first flush. The small leaves contain more chlorophyll than normal because they’ve been shaded from the sun for several days. Now you see why this tea is g-r-e-e-n. After the tea is picked it goes through a rigorous production process. The finest processed leaves are selected for Gyokuro.

If you have tried Gyokuro, you know the heavenly scent that lingers from the dried leaves. Although the leaves are small, you can get a feel for just how much moisture the leaves held under the shade by rolling them around in your fingers. I find myself popping the lid off of the tea tin just to inhale the aroma of the tea. It’s literally a breath of fresh air. Now, since I paid a lot for the tea I’m careful during the steeping process. I start with water that is well below a boil. Maybe about 130 degrees. The first steeping gets the tiny needle-like leaves to open, which only takes a couple of minutes. The second steeping can be much shorter since the leaves are already open. To me, it’s all about feel and taste. Even when I’m impatient and the water is too hot, this tea is a treat. Make it the way you like it…this ain’t rocket science. Just don’t scorch the tea with boiling water or let it steep too long.

Let’s talk flavor…as I mentioned this tea is g-r-e-e-n. If you are the one that picks their vegetables off their plate, you’re not going to like this. The tea has a very juicy vegetal flavor. Due to its growing environment, Gyokuro’s tannin level is much lower than other green teas; therefore, it is not a bitter tea. The tea is so smooth and pure. The vegetal flavor is so inviting. The tea also has a slight bite to it - an almost spice like quality about it. The liquor is a pale green color. I highly recommend this tea to anyone wanting to try a high-grade green tea or simply want to try an excellent Japanese green tea. The Gyokuro I’m drinking this week is from Adagio.

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It’s funny how my tea moods change with the seasons. I’m not always in the mood for Hojicha, but when the mood hits this is a very enjoyable tea. It’s a great tea to drink after being outside in the cold-winter weather. The roasted Bancha tea leaves remind me of a distant burning fireplace. The Bancha is just a simple green tea that is perfect nearly anytime of year. Best of all, this is usually an inexpensive tea. Due to the fact that the tea is roasted over charcoals, much of the tea’s caffeine is lost. That makes this tea perfect for late winter nights. It’s not a fragrant or elegant tea. This is a tea for people that like a tea with a slight attitude.

From a previous marTEA blog: To start, it is made with a mature Japanese green tea called Bancha. Bancha is a late summer, last harvest, lower-grade tea. The tea leaves are roasted over charcoals. The roasting does two things. First, it creates the mesquite/smoky flavor that gives the tea its unique characteristic. Secondly, it reduces the caffeine, which makes the tea perfect for those watching their caffeine intake.

The Hojicha I’ve been drinking is from The REPUBLIC of TEA. It’s not the best Hojicha I’ve ever tried, but it’s a decent variety. If you would like an authentic Japanese green tea with an earthy and nutty flavor to help you relax, this is an excellent choice.

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No, this is not an early Valentine’s Day blog, I’m not feeling that great. I have a “scratchy” throat at the moment. I’m not full-blown sick, but it could go either way. I’m drinking as much tea as possible. I think everyone knows I’m a huge fan of tea, but I’ve never been a fan of honey. That is until recently… When I was at the World Tea Expo, I stopped by Bee-Pure Honey’s booth. The people at the booth were very friendly and they were offering several samples. When I came home, I thought I’d give it a shot. Now, tea and honey is not something I would drink on a daily or weekly basis. I like my tea as natural as possible. However, a little honey in a Ceylon or black tea from Kenya is very relaxing and delicious. Honey really does seem to help sooth a sore throat. I just had a cup of tea with honey, and my throat feels 100 times better. If you haven’t heard of Bee-Pure, I highly recommend them. Don’t wait until you’re sick!

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I’m ending a series of blogs about flavored black teas with a blackberry sage tea from The REPUBLIC of TEA. Every tea was enjoyable. Blackberry sage was certainly no exception. I can’t stress enough… don’t buy a flavored tea if you don’t like flavored beverages. I’ve yet to find a beverage that tastes as good as the actual food/fruit it is suppose to taste like. However, if I’m going to drink a flavored beverage, it’s going to be tea. This tea is a mix of black tea leaves from Sri Lanka and China. The leaves are an average quality loose leaf that you will find in most affordable loose leaf black teas.

The REPUBLIC of TEA describes the tea as: Finest black tea leaves blended with blackberries, natural flavor, blackberry leaves and sage. Tasting notes: A soft berry note with the wispy coolness of sage atop the taste of smooth tea.

All in all, I agree with their description. The scent of the tea almost reminds me of an old-fashioned beverage mix like Kool-Aid. The sage flavor mellows the tea a little to help add an extra layer of flavor. The blackberry sage tea was another tea I liked to take on-the-go. It adds a pleasant aroma to the air, and the flavor puts me in a good mood. When I drink flavored teas, I like to have a variety on hand. Depending on what mood you’re in - just grab a flavor that fits your craving at the moment. Flavored black teas can help cut your cravings for sweets or snack foods. If you find a flavored tea that you really enjoy, it becomes a great way to start your day or help to establish a pattern of relaxation. Remember, black tea contains caffeine; however, it’s far less than coffee. In addition, there are many green teas that are flavored. Green tea contains less caffeine than black tea.

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