Tealyra Yunnan Golden Special Black Tea

This is one of the smoother, more mellow black teas you'll find. Expect chocolatey and malty notes with a golden, almost sweet quality. It's delicate rather than bold, with subtle earthy undertones. Multiple reviewers specifically praise how it lacks the bitterness or astringency common in other black teas, making it surprisingly light and drinkable.

Absolutely! The whole leaf quality really shines here—you can typically get 3-4 solid infusions from the same leaves. Reviewers note that the color stays beautifully golden across multiple steeps, which is a hallmark of high-quality Yunnan tea. This makes it more economical than it first appears.

It works for both, honestly. Beginners love it because it's forgiving—smooth, non-bitter, and easy to enjoy even if you're not precise with brewing. It works well with milk if you prefer that. But enthusiasts appreciate the complexity and nuance in the flavor, plus the quality whole leaves with golden tips. One heads-up: the large leaves make it tricky to measure by volume, so a small kitchen scale helps get consistent results.

The golden tips are the young leaf buds included in the tea, and they're a sign of quality Yunnan black tea. They contribute to that slightly sweet, mellow character and complex flavor profile. Reviewers specifically call out seeing these golden tips in their bags, which indicates you're getting genuine, well-processed leaves rather than broken tea dust.

Most people report it arrives well-packaged with minimal broken leaves, which is impressive for whole leaf tea. One reviewer mentioned finding some dust on the inner bag (though it didn't affect the brew quality), but overall the leaves come intact and fresh. The whole leaf format means you'll see the actual tea leaves unfurl as they steep, which is part of the experience.

It's definitely on the mild side for a black tea. If you're looking for something bold and bracing to wake you up, this might feel too subtle. But if you want a complex, fragrant black tea you can actually taste the nuances of—chocolatey, malty, earthy notes—without getting smacked with tannins, this fits the bill perfectly. Think elegant rather than aggressive.