A pleasant, drinkable tea, but on the boring side. I usually associate the name "Golden Monkey" with golden, all-tip black teas from Fujian province, not Yunnan. This tea is from Yunnan.

Dry leaf is very pleasantly aromatic, suggesting dried fruit, and a slight hint of malt.

Brews up a beautiful, light brown cup that is mild in aroma and exceptionally smooth in flavor and mouthfeel. Aroma is of fruit with a faint suggestion of malt. Very low in tannins. Oolong-like in mouthfeel and overall character, but without any discernable roast in the aroma. I found that this tea tasted a lot less like black teas than most other Yunnan gold teas I've tried.

There is a noticeable absence of the peppery finish that usually characterizes Yunnan teas. I found that the mouthfeel was a little boring, because of this. I normally like this quality.

I used a little less leaf than Octavia recommends, closer to 1 teaspoon per cup. I could have brewed it more strongly: the flavor is delicate and this tea is a lot less intense than most other black teas from Octavia.

Good, but not my favorite tea of this style, and not standing out among Octavia's offerings. I strongly (and across-the-board) prefer their Ancient Yunnan, a darker tea that has less tip. It's slightly cheaper too. Among Octavia's more mellow black teas, I prefer their Imperial Black. It's also oolong-like, and I just think a much more interesting tea.

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