Golden Monkey Imperial Black Tea

An exceptional golden-tipped Fujian black tea with natural cocoa, toasted grain, and buttery sweetness wrapped in a remarkably smooth, full-bodied cup.

The Experience

Golden Monkey Imperial Black Tea, also known as Jin Hou (Golden Monkey), is a celebrated Chinese black tea distinguished by its abundance of beautiful golden tips and remarkably rich yet polished character.

Produced in Fujian Province, China, this tea is crafted from tender leaves and young buds, then carefully hand-sorted to preserve its striking appearance. The finished leaves are long, wiry, and beautifully twisted, with golden-brown tips woven throughout the darker leaf.

Those golden tips aren't decoration. They are the tender tips of new shoots, which develop their characteristic golden color during black-tea manufacture. Their abundance reflects the selective leaf material and careful grading behind this tea.

In the cup, Golden Monkey is full-bodied yet exceptionally smooth. Natural cocoa and toasted-grain notes emerge first, followed by a distinctive buttery sweetness and soft, almost starchy richness. The finish is balanced, velvety, and lingering, without the aggressive astringency sometimes associated with stronger black teas. It's substantial enough for the morning, but this is a tea worth slowing down for.

Tasting Notes

Top: Cocoa powder • Toasted grain
Mid: Buttery sweetness • Warm starch
Finish: Smooth • Sweet • Lingering
Body: Full

Why You'll Love It

• Abundant golden tips and beautifully hand-sorted leaves
• Naturally sweet without added flavoring
• Rich cocoa and toasted-grain notes produced entirely by the tea
• Full-bodied without harshness or excessive astringency
• Buttery, velvety texture
• Hand-sorted orthodox production
• A premium expression of Fujian black-tea craftsmanship
• Excellent for drinkers ready to explore beyond traditional breakfast teas

Origin, Grade & Ingredients

Tea Type: Pure Black Tea
Chinese Name: Jin Hou (Golden Monkey)
Style: Hand-Sorted Orthodox (Traditional Leafy)
Grade: STOP — Special Tippy Orange Pekoe
Leaf Character: Golden Tips
Origin: Fujian Province, China
Elevation: 1,000–1,500 m (~3,300–5,000 ft)
Ingredients: Black tea
Caffeine: Yes
Body: Full

How to Brew

• 1 heaping teaspoon per 8 oz water
• 212°F water
• Mild: 2–3 minutes
• Medium: 4–5 minutes
• Strong: 6–7 minutes

We recommend enjoying Golden Monkey straight first. Milk can be added, but its naturally sweet cocoa, grain, and buttery notes are easiest to appreciate without additions.

Perfect For

Slow mornings, afternoon tea, exploring premium Chinese black teas, or anyone who loves full-bodied black tea but prefers natural sweetness and smoothness over brisk astringency. Pair it with dark chocolate, toasted nuts, buttery pastries, shortbread, croissants, or simply enjoy it on its own.

Golden Tips from Fujian, China

Golden Monkey belongs to the rich black-tea tradition of Fujian Province, with the source describing it as a particularly fine expression of the Panyong Congou tradition.

Producing leaves with this appearance requires considerable care. After manufacture, the tea is hand-sorted, preserving the long, curly, well-twisted leaves and the high proportion of golden tips that make Golden Monkey immediately recognizable.

The tips begin as tender new growth. As the leaves are processed into black tea, these young buds develop their beautiful gold-brown color. The local tea material used for Panyong Congou is prized for characteristics particularly well suited to fine black tea: rich aroma, natural sweetness, golden liquor, and beautifully twisted leaves.

The result demonstrates an important lesson for anyone beginning to explore purist tea: Black tea doesn't need chocolate, vanilla, or caramel added to taste remarkably rich. In Golden Monkey, impressions of cocoa, toasted grain, butter, and sweetness all come naturally from the leaf itself.

Why Is It Called “Golden Monkey”?

The tea's memorable name has inspired several stories. One tradition connects the name to the appearance of its slender, curled, golden-tipped leaves, which are said to resemble golden monkey paws.

More colorful folklore claims that golden monkeys once plucked these prized leaves from the forests of Fujian for powerful local figures. It's best enjoyed as a tea legend rather than literal history—but it reflects the rarity and prestige historically associated with exceptional tippy tea.

And despite the wonderfully playful name, no monkeys are involved in the tea. Just carefully selected leaves, abundant golden tips, and considerable craftsmanship.

Packaging: Our loose teas are sold by the ounce and packaged in food-grade resealable bags.

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