Golden Monkey tea facts for kids
Golden Monkey tea (also known as Jīn Hóu Chá in Chinese) is a special kind of black tea. It comes from the beautiful Fujian and Yunnan provinces in China. This tea is famous for its unique look and taste.
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What Makes Golden Monkey Tea Special?
Golden Monkey tea is made from only the very best parts of the tea plant: the tiny bud and the first leaf that grows next to it. These parts are carefully picked by hand.
Its Unique Look
- The tea leaves have a special look, with pale gold threads mixed in. This golden color is one reason it's called "Golden Monkey."
- The leaves are said to look a bit like monkey claws, which also helps explain its name!
Its Delicious Flavor
Golden Monkey tea has a wonderful taste that many people love.
- It often has light, sweet flavors, like honey and peach.
- Unlike some teas, it's not bitter or "astringent," which means it feels smooth when you drink it.
Where Does Golden Monkey Tea Come From?
This amazing tea mostly comes from the Yunnan province in China.
- Yunnan is a very mountainous area, often covered in clouds and mist. These conditions are perfect for growing tea.
- Tea has been grown in Yunnan for a very long time, over 1,700 years!
High-Altitude Growing
The tea leaves for Golden Monkey tea grow at high altitudes, around 1,200 meters (about 3,900 feet) above sea level. This high-altitude growing environment helps give the tea its special qualities.
How is Golden Monkey Tea Made?
Golden Monkey tea is made with great care, usually in the spring.
- Each spring, the tea buds and leaves are picked by hand. This careful picking helps make it one of the best black teas you can find.
- After picking, the leaves go through a special process to become black tea. This process brings out their unique flavors and golden color.
A Prized Tea with a Long History
Even though tea has been grown in Yunnan for a very long time, Golden Monkey tea itself is somewhat new, about 300 years old. It has only been sent to other countries in the last 13 to 18 years.
Valued by Important People
In ancient times, this rare tea was enjoyed by important and wealthy people, like local landlords and rich merchants called Taipans.
- Because it was so rare, some Taipans even believed it had special powers, like making them more agile!
Award-Winning Taste
Golden Monkey tea is highly valued around the world. It even won second place in a big competition called the "Signature Famous Teas – Hot Tea Class" at the 2009 World Tea Championship. This shows how much experts appreciate its quality and taste.
