Tasting Notes
Remarkably smooth with flavours of rich toffee, butterscotch and vanilla. Like White Silver Tips, these spring buds are full of the sugars stored by the tea plant over winter. These tender shoots give the tea an extraordinary sweetness, unlike any other black tea.
The tannins in this black tea are very low and the mouthfeel is clean and silky.
Quantity
Use 0.1 oz of leaf per 5.5 fl oz of water (2.5g per 150ml).
Temperature
For the optimum infusion use 176°F (80°C) water.
Time
Infuse for 1 - 2 minutes, tasting regularly. Best enjoyed without milk.
Infusion
You can infuse this tea at least twice. With each careful infusion, different subtleties of flavour are revealed.
Cost Per Cup
42¢ per cup based on 0.1 oz of leaf per 5.5 fl oz of water and 2 infusions.
Golden Monkey Paw
Emperor's Breakfast is a truly epicurean black China tea originating in the Ming Dynasty. It comes from the mountains of Fujian, and is also known as ‘Golden Monkey Paw’. The varietal used has small golden buds, covered in elegant downy hair, like a catkin.
When the tea is fired and rolled, the buds curl, giving them a resemblance to the paws of capuchin monkeys.
Serving Suggestion
Normally, this tea would be drunk black and infused at a lower water temperature to enhance its innate sweetness. However, using boiling water and a longer extraction (3 - 4 minutes) will bring out a depth and richness that pairs wonderfully with a drop of milk.
You may notice the colour is a little lighter, but don’t let your eyes fool your taste buds. As long as you don’t over dilute your tea, you should get a lovely well balanced cup of tea with milk. Although if you do like your milky tea very strong – we recommend our Speedy Breakfast or Lost Malawi.
