Cameron B. select Send Message

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drank Elder Grove by Whispering Pines Tea Company
4330 tasting notes

I actually had this one last night, but I completely forgot to log it this morning as I had planned to. I made sure to include this in my recent order, since the last time I had it, for some reason it didn’t come out very well for me. And it’s so darn inexpensive! So anyway, I really wanted to try it at once, but I saved it for the evening since it’s caffeine free. I overleafed a bit on purpose (2 teaspoons instead of 1/2 tablespoon) just to make sure the flavor was strong this time.

I definitely love this tea! The aroma and taste are both spicy and sweet and darkly fruity. I love the way the elderberries end up tasting – dark and syrupy but still sweet and berry-like. The spice is perfect! I can definitely taste the cinnamon and I get a clove-like flavor even though there are no cloves. I have no idea what holy basil is, so maybe it’s the cause of that. Overall, the flavor of this tea reminds me of a nice mulled apple cider with a deeper fruity flavor. Delicious, and a definite must-have from now on! I can’t wait to sip this in the colder months.

Flavors: Berry, Cinnamon, Clove, Sweet

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
4 comments
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Marzipan
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My husband smelled it last night and said it reminds him of the mulled wine they have in Denmark at Christmas.

Cameron B.
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I’ve never had mulled wine, but I can imagine it being similar with that dark fruitiness. I should definitely try it now! My boyfriend told me about something similar that he had in Germany, and you could buy these clay cups and have them refilled.

Whispering Pines Tea Company
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I would HIGHLY recommend simmering a tablespoon of this in 16oz of fresh apple juice for 5 minutes when autumn rolls around. It seriously makes an amazing mulling spice :)

Whispering Pines Tea Company
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And the clove note is totally coming from the holy basil, good catch :)

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Comments

Marzipan
Delete

My husband smelled it last night and said it reminds him of the mulled wine they have in Denmark at Christmas.

Cameron B.
Delete

I’ve never had mulled wine, but I can imagine it being similar with that dark fruitiness. I should definitely try it now! My boyfriend told me about something similar that he had in Germany, and you could buy these clay cups and have them refilled.

Whispering Pines Tea Company
Delete

I would HIGHLY recommend simmering a tablespoon of this in 16oz of fresh apple juice for 5 minutes when autumn rolls around. It seriously makes an amazing mulling spice :)

Whispering Pines Tea Company
Delete

And the clove note is totally coming from the holy basil, good catch :)

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Profile

Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron!

I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, Korean skincare, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2025 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- February sipdowns: 5
- Total 2025 sipdowns: 39

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia (or monkfruit, etc.).

I tend to reach for fruitier flavors rather than desserty ones these days, but I do have favorites from both categories. Willing to try anything once! There are a few ingredients/flavors that aren’t generally my jam, such as coconut, rose, lavender, and chocolate flavoring. But I also have teas that I love with some of those things, too! :)

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing

Location

Austin, Texas

Website

https://www.instagram.com/tea...

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