Golden Monkey

Steeping this for about three minutes brings out a honey sweetness I wasn't expecting from a black tea. You can actually see the golden buds scattered through the dry leaf, and they pluck only the bud and first leaf, which probably explains how smooth it drinks without any bitterness.

The golden tips on these leaves are no joke—you can see the bud and first leaf everywhere, which explains that honeyed, malty sweetness in the cup. Barely any bitterness even when I oversteep it, and I've already gone through half the bag in two weeks.

Steeping these for about three minutes gives a cup that's smooth and a little chocolatey, with none of the bitterness I get from cheaper black teas. Knowing it's only the bud and first leaf, hand-plucked each spring, makes the price easier to swallow.