B-CN-005
Golden Monkey
金猴
Gongfu black, from Fujian, China.
Black tea
Golden Monkey is strongest on sweetness, body and smoothness. Typical tasting words: cocoa powder, peach, honey, malt, caramel. A traditional export black tea crafted in northern Fujian, historically named for the curled leaf and bud resembling a monkey paw. Widely enjoyed in Western tea commerce as an accessible luxury Chinese black tea without sharp tannins.
Also known as Jin Hou, Golden Monkey Paw and Fujian Golden Monkey.
The profile
Taste, 0 to 5
Flavour families, 0 to 5
Facts
- Origin
- Fujian, China
- Plant
- Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, Fuding Da Bai or Zhenghe Da Bai
- Harvest
- Spring (April)
- Elevation
- mid
- Oxidation
- 85 to 95%
- Roast
- very light
- Leaf
- bud and leaf
- Price band
- mid-range
- Availability
- common
- Ageing
- a little
- Forgiving to brew
- 5 of 5
- L-theanine
- moderate
Made by: withering, then rolling, then oxidation, then pan-firing, then drying.
Caffeine
A cup of Golden Monkey carries a typical estimate of 50 mg of caffeine, within a range of 35 to 65 mg depending on leaf amount, water temperature and steeping time. Figures are estimates for a 240 ml cup. Better earlier in the day if you are sensitive to caffeine. The caffeine planner turns this into a daily total.
How to brew it
| Method | Leaf | Water | Steeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western, 250 ml | 3 g | 90 to 95 °C | 3 min, 4 min, 5 min |
| Gongfu, 100 ml | 5 g | 90 to 95 °C | Rinse, then 15 s, 20 s, 25 s, 35 s, 50 s, 75 s |
| Cold brew, 250 ml | 3 g | Fridge | 8 to 12 hours |
Up to 7 infusions. Scale for your own pot with the brew calculator.
Drinking it
- morning
- afternoon
- morning
- afternoon
- relaxing
Pairs with pastry, chocolate and scones_cakes. Milk: no. Iced: no. Sweetener: yes. Good for beginners: yes.
Tasting words explained
Similar teas
- B-CN-003Yunnan Dian Hong (Golden Bud)
shares sweetness and body - B-IN-031Arunachal Black
shares sweetness and body - B-CN-011Yihong
shares smoothness and sweetness - B-IN-025Assam Golden Tips
shares sweetness and body - B-CN-010Ning Hong
shares smoothness and sweetness - B-CN-016Yingde Black
shares body and smoothness
More: all black tea teas, teas from Fujian, China, or filter the whole drawer.