Whispering Pines Tea Company

It has been a lousy kind of day today. So I’ve been drinking WP teas to keep me company. They’re the bright spot to my day. Definitely.

This tea has been keeping me company all day. Creamy and buttery, green and barely floral and slightly nutty. Yum in a cup.

I’d forgotten I had this one! I found it while digging through my pantry for something for my drive to work this morning.

This was not my drive tea. That was kinda lousy.

This tea was not lousy. It was perfect. It kept me company all day. I started with short, quick infusions and slowly, slowly increased the time. The last was 9 minutes, and I think I could get more out of it if I were willing to wait, but I’m just about to head out to the gym so I’m calling it good.

This tea is buttery and delicious. That is what I will say about it.

It’s good company on a long Monday.

I really like this tea. It’s nice, just a touch floral, just enough nutty. It’s incredibly buttery. I had one of my guilty pleasures, ramen noodles, for lunch today (Yes, that’ my entire salt intake for the day, and I didn’t even use half of the packet) and this tea surprisingly went perfectly. I’m happy as can be.

This is a really nice tea. Buttery and smooth drinking, just a touch floral. A creamy kind of nuttiness that once I re-read the description I agree is yes, definitely like a chestnut. I hadn’t tried this one before ordering it, but I’m really glad I got it.

I’m on my third infusion right now, but I can tell there are several more left in these leaves. I really need a better gaiwan since I don’t really like the one I have. I’ve been doing these western style with my in mug infuser. (Nothing wrong with that, but it makes for a lot of tea.) I’ve actually got a 5oz finum hot glass system coming today, so I think that’ll work for now.

Ya, ya, I’m drinking and reviewing Port again.

What can I say? I have become a total Port-head.

Not my fault…it’s highly addictive. I don’t even think about stoping, that’s how hooked I am.

I continuously think about how good my next fix will me. I can smell it even when it’s not around.

I get tremors of anticipation as I prepare it in my little clay pot.

The taste is so complex, I don’t even know how to describe it anymore…see pervious notes!

Never thought I’d say this, but I love being a Port-head!!

As Amy Winehouse’s song goes…«they tried to make me go to tea-hab, but I said no, no, no!!»

I was just gonna sit with this tea , enjoy it and be happy.

But it has put a spell on me and I feel compelled to write another review.

Ever since I’ve been using my Vanilla Dream yixing pot, this tea keeps getting better and better. Having this gives me the same warming feeling a good quality sheng does. Yes, it’s as rewarding. Any sceptical tea purists in the house? Well let me tell you how much you are missing on if you’re a non believer. This tea is a “whoa” inducer, goes straight to your senses.

This blend is innovative and completely unique. It almost creates a new flavour that doesn’t exist, making it almost impossible to describe. Sweet, savoury, salty, spicy, but not quite umami. The vanilla bean renders a rich and heavy mouthfeel. To make things even more complex, a fresh eucalyptus finish emerges at the end of the sip…mix that with the minerals of the clay pot, and you get a taste that lingers in the mouth forever, just like any good oolong or sheng pu’erh would. Complexity at its best…

Although I don’t drink much heavy liquor, I would compare Port to a fine aged whisky…something you can’t put a price on cause every time you drink it, you feel lucky you got the chance to experience such a gem.

Whoa! Port in a little pot.

Ambrosia, liquid gold for the gods.

So I now have this little yixing clay pot seasoned especially for Whispering Pines’s Vanilla Dreams collection.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/laafeevertee/14709714692/

Though it is hard to decide, Port is probably my favourite in that collection.

It’s got such distinctive notes of eucalyptus and camphor that marry so well with the saffron and the vanilla. I love that you can definitely pick up the saffron, it brings the flavour to another level, hard to describe…almost savoury, umami…

Not easy to go back to regular stuff once you’ve experienced that. This tea is like no other, and though it might not be for every palate, it’s a must try.

Every time I have it, I’m loving it a little more.

(I’m at infusion six right now, and it keeps on giving…)

I usually don’t cold steep spent leaves unless I drink oolong or pu’erh, they have so much to give, I often stop my sessions and just cold brew the rest.

Yesterday, this one was weak for me at the third cup. I would normally just dispose of it. But I thought that maybe the vanilla bean in it could still gift me with some goodness, so I tried.

It filled a 24oz jar for 20 hours in the fridge. I thought this is way too much water for such a little bit of tea, it will probably taste like noting…WRONG!

OMG!!! It’s hot here today and this is soooo refreshing!

It tastes like vanilla sugar, so deliciously yummy.

I conclude that this tea might be expensive but out of 1/2 tablespoon, I got three hot 8oz cups and a 24oz jar of iced tea!

I’d say not a bad yielding ratio :-)

Port in the afternoon? Hey, why not!

I’m an advocate of drinking my best teas at very ordinary times. Why wait for a special occasions? Just make the ordinary extraordinary!

This is fine tea, I mean REALLY fine.

Brenden suggested I use one of those little Chinese Gongfu stainless super fine stainers for his vanilla tea. I’m all out of Golden Orchid (new batch on its way, yay!!!), but I thought I’d give it a try with Port.

I already see a difference by looking at the tea through my doubled walled mug. Last time I had it, I used a regular strainer and the infusion was a little blurry. It’s crystal clear now. The difference is subtle, but I can see how the taste seems different, “cleaner”. Hard to explain and fully grasp cause I drank Port only once before.

There aren’t many of them, but I see little hairs of red saffron in the blend here and there, and they do render a Spanish savoury flair to the cup and a beautiful bright amber copper liquor.

First thing to notice is the delectable and creamy vanilla, its feels organic and a little earthy. Paired with the exquisite and sweet black base, and the “cederness” of the roasted cedar leaves, this tea turns into a sophisticated caramel infusion, with floral and fresh evergreens notes.

Yes, it’s very expensive, but it delivers and I think everyone should experience it at least once. (The problem is I am now hooked and I know I will reorder when I’m out!!)

Just a superb creation.

The moment has arrived, people. Today is the day I try Port for the first time.

At $22 an ounce, this tea is dressed to impressed. It wears a garment made of pure Madagascar vanilla beans and colourful saffron. (Spanish saffron, not the cheap imitation stuff)

Yep, that’s how Brenden rolls apparently.

But will all that glitter hold enough substance or will it fall flat?

I really want to like it and do it justice, so I decide to meticulously follow the master’s instructions.

Alright, alright, alright … The smell. Oh my, that smell. I could bathe in this. Miaow.

Torture, now I have to wait until it cools down? Or should I burn my tongue just a little?

Ok, I wait.

What I taste is beyond description cause it tastes like no other tea I’ve had before. The first thing that hits me is that creamy exotic vanilla. So different from your generic vanilla flavour. So organic.

Then, the unusual…a fresh eucalyptus mouthfeel is shinning through the base tea. What is this black tea from Dehong, China? I’d be really interested to try it on its own. There’s a certain earthiness to it. Sophistication meets rustic.

I will make sure to extract every little bit of flavour left in these very special leaves.

This is a pure delight, so happy I went with my gut and purchased it, well worth the investment…good job on this special creation of yours Brenden :-)

My first tea from Whispering Pines Thanks so much Boychik!!!

I can see why everyone is raving about this one. Strong cocoa and fruity notes make this one very appealing. Bold and malty and rich! Nom nom nom…perfect for breakfast, or in my case for an afternoon pick-me-up!

:D

Ok I had to start this review over because I accidentally deleted the whole thing before I posted it somehow.
I’ve been waiting on this one for a while, I was lucky enough to get to taste a sample of it a while back and i knew right away that i must have more of it.

The aroma is slightly floral and slightly fruity at the same time with the floral aroma being similar to an orchid type aroma and the fruity aromas being like that of plums or dried cherries, very nice.

The major flavor notes are those of smokey pine, raw cocoa and honey with a pleasant sharpness or dryness on the end/aftertaste.

The minor notes are ever-changing and make the profile of this tea quite complex and hard to write a review on but I’ll do the best I can…
There a very slight floral note at times when the tea is warmer those match the orchid notes in the aroma as the tea cools a bit those very slight floral note turn into slightly citrus type note somehow. There is also a slight sweet note throughout this tea that also changes, at the start it is a fruity type sweetness and on the end it is more of a floral or honey type sweetness.

This tea is also very forgiving and can handle abuse of oversteeping and still come out tasting better than ever with no bitter or astringent at all in fact To Me it actually got much smoother with a longer steep and even more mellow as it cool.

Overall Pine Peak is a great Name for this one because the smokey Pine notes are dominate in this one,a wonderful good Keemun IMO that can be enjoyed many ways, I bet It would make for a really great iced tea also.

P.S Also I tasted it with some sweetener just because, I DO NOT recommend that at all, This tea is best enjoyed as it is without added sweetener.

I got this as a sample with my Whispering Pines order.

This is a very smooth tea. The first sip of it I seriously felt like I was breathing in ocean air. I wasn’t… i was standing in the breakroom at my office, but it definitely has a very present oceanic taste and scent at first. It mellows out as you drink it though, and I thought this was a very pleasent cup of tea.

Thick, honey, malty, smooth, cocoa-ey, molasses-y… good for 2.5 steeps of long length. I seriously regret not buying a larger amount.

This. Is. Freakin. Good. Tea.

Getting to the bottom of a 1oz bag so there are lots of cinnamon chips! I used water that was a little less than boiling. The tea smells—and tastes—like fresh red apples to me. It’s sweet with a little bit of a tart nippiness and a little bitterness that makes me think of biting into apple skins. (That bitterness is NOT a negative quality to me at all.) It’s spot-on! SO hard for me to believe there aren’t actual pieces of apple in this tea. The cinnamon makes it taste like apple pie filling. There’s a slight roastiness to this tea; a light mineral taste lingers after every sip. I’m wishing that the tea base was a little lighter, maybe more buttery or floral…but I know that’s where the apple taste is coming from. Guess I’m just being picky. It’s still a decent cuppa. (:

Backlog:

I thought that this would taste “smoky” because … something about the name just … sort of insinuated it to me. But this isn’t a smoky tea. It’s a lovely combination of mint (spearmint and peppermint) and jasmine and green tea. A tasty combination.

Not overly minty. Crisp and cooling, but not in a sip of mouthwash sort of way. I taste green tea and jasmine along with the mint, and it’s a very refreshing, interesting combination. The jasmine notes build as I continue to sip.

Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2014/04/13/whisper-of-the-woods-green-tea-blend-from-whispering-pines-tea-company/

This one is really growing on me. It’s cozy and nice. I get strong cravings for it, sometimes.
Taking back what I said; it’s a definite re-order!

(For poetic ramblings see previous notes.)

The base tea for this blend has changed since I last had it! I ordered an ounce of the new one, and this is only my second cup. It certainly is different. The smokiness is more pronounced, melding perfectly with the peppery spices. It’s making the back of my throat and tongue tingle a little. It’s very woodsy! Makes me think of campfires. There’s also an earthy, grounding quality to it as well. While the old tea base tended towards caramel, marshmallow sweetness (at least for me), this tea base tends towards honey sweetness with an undercurrent of freshly cut wood. Honestly, I prefer the former in a black tea…but that’s not to say I don’t like this one too. Looking back at my other tasting note, I mentioned that there was bitterness in the other cup. There’s NO bitterness in this one. Going back to the spice blend for a second…I like it. It’s warming, like an afghan thrown across your lap as you stare lazily into a roaring fire. Yeah. It’s nice. The peppercorn seemed a little strong in the first cup. I think that’s what made my throat tingly. The base tea comes through much better in the second infusion: it’s smoother, less smokey, more wood and honey. Would I reorder this? Not sure. I think there are other chai blends I prefer, but this would be nice to have around in the winter months.

[OLD Blend!]

Got a sample of this one from Veronica. Thank you muchly. (:

In hindsight I should have done a quick rinse before brewing. Oops. This was the last scoop in the bottom of (what looks like) a 1oz bag, so I went in knowing that the ratio of spice blend to tea was going to be a little skewed. That’s okay though. Smelling the dry leaves, I recognized a light smokiness that is very similar to the smokiness of Manistee Moonrise (am I right?). Brewed, the tea liquor was a deep reddish gold. The smell is campfire smoke, spice, and a hint of sweetness.

It calls to mind specific images, like red autumn leaves littering the forest floor. A fire crackling as dusk turns to night. Tree bark. It’s earthy and grounding. The blend of spices is pleasant and it reminds me of VT’s chai spice blend, which is the first chai I ever really loved. There’s a nice balance between all of the flavors; smoke is ever-present in the foreground. (Almost overwhelming, but not UNpleasant. Like I said: should have rinsed first!) There’s a slight bitterness along with the earthy, woodsy tones. It seems to fit and I can’t explain how. As the tea cools a silky sweetness steps up and just hangs around in the back of my mouth. It’s kind of caramelly. It’s gooood.

In the second cup, the smokiness is turned way way down. The liquor is a mellow gold and I can pick out the scent of cinnamon and clove more than I could in the first cup. I’ve learned by now that this is a tea better served medium-warm, so that’s how I drink it! And oh is it good. The smokey notes are more suggested than stated. Kind of wispy, like after a candle is snuffed out—not like the smoke coming off of a roaring fire. This cup is more woodsy. (For the record I LOVE the smell of wood.) The sweetness is more intense, curled around the spices like a cat’s tail. The spice leaves a nice tingle in the back of my throat and the sweetness lingers long after I’ve taken a sip. If I push my tongue around my teeth, the sweet flavor is paired with the sensation of biting into a puffed marshmallow. That’s the only way I can think to explain it. Really unusual and unexpected! I like it. There’s a slight drying quality to it as well.

I wish I had more of this tea to play around with. (: As far as chai goes, I’d say it’s definitely one of my top 5.

one of the greatest things about swaps is that things arrive on your doorstep that you may never have chosen. thanks so much to kaylee for this!!! i really never would have chosen it and it’s outstanding….

the risk with pine is it can punch you in the nose while it’s going down. is there even a hint of that in this blend? nope!

this really is a masterpiece, brendan. very, very fine. the lightest hints of pine that behave as mint with an essence of eucalyptus, but mostly a very sweet green. no vegetal tone. no seaweed. not nuts…. a pure, light chlorophyll element, as though the components were freshly gathered.

sprightly, subtle, anything but boring…. i foresee an order in future…. thank you so much kaylee!

Seasoned my first yixing! Yes! It was gifted to me over a year ago by some tea-drinking friends. It took me a year to get over how intimidated I was of using yixing teaware. I believe it was purchased at Teavana, and as I’ve never used a yixing pot before I can’t speak for the quality. It should do just fine. I rinsed it with boiling water several times, then left some of GTT’s Honey Black steeping overnight. Later in the day, I rinsed again with boiling water, then left it in a pot of hot water with some Laoshan Black and SOT’s Coonoor Nilgiri. Waited several hours, then removed it and rinsed with boiling water again. There’s no residual clay smell that I can tell. The maximum capacity is just under 8oz, if I fill it nearly to the brim. I decided to test brew some Ailaoshan Black in this little pot. Maybe I should stick to lighter teas, teas with strong notes of honey and baked bread? I haven’t decided. I might simply use it for my favorite black teas; they share many of the same qualities, though not all.

Anyway, there is an intense honey sweetness to this tea that wasn’t present before. Brewing in the yixing also upped the buttery, baked notes that the tea already had. There’s cocoa and malt but it’s a little subdued. The stone fruit, cherry flavors are also barely present. The finish has a touch of caramel; it’s creamy and full, then it recedes into a more crisp, floral aftertaste. I’m wondering if some of the chocolatey notes are hiding in the yixing somewhere, to reappear later in a different cup, with a different tea.

This was more a record of my first yixing experience than the tea itself. For a better description of the tea, see my other tasting note.

If anyone has advice or opinions about yixing dedicated to black tea, leave a comment. I’ll be happy to hear it!

Oh my god. This is too good.

At first I get the impression of red fruits, then a deep, chocolatey note that is soon joined by sweet caramel. It’s roasty and savory and wonderfully complex. There is a touch of astringency. It might be remedied by a lower brewing temperature—I prefer not to use boiling water on black tea anyway. (Or any tea…except for puerh.) The taste that lingers behind is SO WONDERFUL. Dark chocolate, some grapey-ness, some sweetness. No doubt, this tea is special. I’m enamored.

It’s soo hard to find words to describe this tea. Why is it so hard?! The fruit flavor is difficult for me to pin down. I’ve just brewed a second cup and it smells strongly of cocoa and baked bread. Too hot to sip but you’re damn right I have my nose stuck in the cup. (:

Now that it’s cool enough to drink (just kidding, I burned myself)…I’m getting more roasty, nutty notes, more chocolate, a little more caramel, and this gooey baked pastry flavor. It’s so smooth. No astringency at all in this cup (lower temp), and it coats your tongue HEAVILY with malt and sweetness. The dark fruity undertones pervade throughout, and the overall flavor sticks around forever. It sounds gross, but it has me licking my teeth. It’s too good. I can’t handle it. It…it might be perfect!

(The gooey, caramel, marshmallow-like sweetness intensifies as temperature cools. The last lukewarm mouthfuls at the bottom of the cup DEFINITELY tasted like marshmallow to me.)

Note to self: try a gong fu session with the rest of this sample. Thank you Veronica!

Ginger tea because my tummy is being mean to me and I figured that this would help a bit.
It’s a nice ginger tea! Definitely not as spicy/ginger-y as DAVID’s Super Ginger haha. Dude that one was super peppery. I liked this one a lot! I like the pairing of the rooibos and the ginger.
Still getting used to ginger teas and I feel like these are great for when I’m a sicko on bed, or if I just have tummy problems.

Thank you MissB for sending me this tea!

The dry aroma on this tea is really interesting. It smells malty, and there’s a general roasty aroma. It smells like something I have smelled before, but I cannot place the aroma.

The tea steeps to a light yellow amber color and I taste the same malty/roasty type scents from the aroma.

It’s a little pricey, and while I think it’s very good, I didn’t love it.