Some teas announce themselves loudly. Monk's Blend takes a quieter approach. It's a smooth, fragrant black tea with a soft touch of vanilla and a fruity hint of grenadine, and it has a way of turning an ordinary afternoon cup into something you actually slow down for. It's also one of our November Monthly Picks, so this felt like the right moment to give it a proper introduction.
Here's where Monk's Blend comes from, what it tastes like, how to brew it, and what to serve alongside it.
Where Monk's Blend Comes From
The heart of Monk's Blend is Ceylon black tea from Sri Lanka. The base is an Orange Pekoe (OP) grade, grown at 4,800 to 7,600 feet and made in the orthodox style, which means the leaves are rolled whole rather than chopped into small particles. That gives you a well-structured leaf and a clean, lively cup.
Sri Lanka's tea story is younger than you might expect. In 1867, a Scottish planter named James Taylor planted the island's first tea field at the Loolecondera estate near Kandy. In the years that followed, a disease called coffee rust wiped out the island's coffee plantations, and planters turned to tea instead. Ceylon soon became known for bright, brisk black teas, and that brightness is exactly why Ceylon is such a good partner for flavors. It holds its own without drowning them out.
To that Ceylon base, the blend adds calendula petals, white daisy and marigold petals, along with natural flavor oils of vanilla and grenadine. Pour some into your hand and you'll see dark, twisted leaves dotted with flecks of orange, gold and white. It's a pretty tea before you even put the kettle on.
What It Tastes Like
Monk's Blend is medium-bodied, with that piquant, slightly tangy Ceylon character up front. Then the vanilla comes in, soft and rounded, smoothing out the edges. The grenadine adds a gentle fruity lift, a little like pomegranate, that keeps the cup from feeling heavy.
The result is a tea that's smooth and a bit mysterious. It's flavorful enough to feel like a treat, but balanced enough to drink any day of the week. If you usually enjoy a classic black tea and want to try something with a little more personality, this is a friendly place to start.
How to Brew Monk's Blend
Black tea likes hot water, so this one is easy to get right. Here's our general guideline for an 8 oz cup:
Measure the tea. Use 1 rounded teaspoon of leaves (about 2 to 3 g) for every 8 oz of water.
Heat the water. Bring fresh water to a boil, about 205 to 212°F.
Steep. Pour the water over the leaves and steep for 3 to 5 minutes. Three minutes gives you a lighter, more fragrant cup. Five minutes brings out more of the Ceylon briskness.
Strain and enjoy. Remove the leaves so the tea doesn't keep steeping. Taste it plain first, then decide if you'd like milk or a little sweetener.
A splash of milk is a lovely match here. It brings the vanilla forward and makes the cup taste creamy and rounded. If you prefer your tea plain, try the shorter steep so the flavors stay light and fragrant. Either way, adjust to your own taste. There's no wrong answer in your own kitchen.
What to Pair with Monk's Blend
Because it already has a gentle sweetness, Monk's Blend gets along well with simple baked goods and fruit. A few of our favorite pairings:
Vanilla cookies or shortbread: buttery cookies echo the vanilla in the tea and make the whole cup feel richer.
Fruit tarts: berries and a crisp pastry shell pick up on the grenadine's fruity side.
Crêpes: plain, with lemon and sugar, or filled with fruit. A pot of Monk's Blend turns a weekend breakfast into a small occasion.
Choosing a Size
Monk's Blend comes in a sample size that makes about 5 cups, so you can try it before committing. When you find you're reaching for it often, it's also available in 4 oz (about 50 cups), 8 oz (about 100 cups) and 16 oz (about 200 cups).
Give It a Try
Quality tea at affordable prices has been our mission since 2006, and Monk's Blend is a great example of what that looks like in the cup: a well-made Ceylon black tea with flavors that are smooth, balanced and easy to love. As one of our November Monthly Picks, it's a perfect excuse to try something new.
Find it on our Monk's Blend page, and if it becomes a favorite, take a look around our Black Tea and Flavored Black Tea collections for your next cup.
Happy sipping!