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drank Ancient Spirit by Whispering Pines Tea Company
1650 tasting notes

I slept with the sliding door to the garden open all night, toasty under the down comforter. It was in the low 40s when I woke up. I wanted this tea specifically — my favorite red tea even though I drink it rarely. In fact, I shared most of this bag because I love it so much.

Another year, another harvest. This one I think was Spring 2019. It’s smokier (a nice wood smoke) and with a more pronounced minerality than I remember but it was the perfect tea to beckon me from under the covers.

My initial review still stands: https://steepster.com/derk/posts/385161#likes
5 comments
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Kawaii433
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Haven’t tried 2019. Thanks for the heads up. ^^

gmathis
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Yum. Tea and weather both. We’ve been told to hang in there until Thursday, then daytime high’s in the 60s will drop like they should have two weeks ago!

derk
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gmathis: We’ll be back in the 80s by Thursday. Enjoy the cool weather when it comes!

ashmanra
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Oooooooh, that sounds heavenly! I bet you slept like a log. It was mid-90’s here today, will be 98 tomorrow and 93 Friday BUT Saturday it will only be around 80 with lows in the 60’s! I am so excited! Planning to make cookies and maybe have tea outside!

derk
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What kind of cookies? I made oatmeal ginger walnut for work the other day. They turned out rock hard but supposedly were good with coffee haha.

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Comments

Kawaii433
Delete

Haven’t tried 2019. Thanks for the heads up. ^^

gmathis
Delete

Yum. Tea and weather both. We’ve been told to hang in there until Thursday, then daytime high’s in the 60s will drop like they should have two weeks ago!

derk
Delete

gmathis: We’ll be back in the 80s by Thursday. Enjoy the cool weather when it comes!

ashmanra
Delete

Oooooooh, that sounds heavenly! I bet you slept like a log. It was mid-90’s here today, will be 98 tomorrow and 93 Friday BUT Saturday it will only be around 80 with lows in the 60’s! I am so excited! Planning to make cookies and maybe have tea outside!

derk
Delete

What kind of cookies? I made oatmeal ginger walnut for work the other day. They turned out rock hard but supposedly were good with coffee haha.

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Bio

This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. Yet I persist.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, and Nepal. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possesses off flavor/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s puerh, I likely think it needs more age.

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Sonoma County, California, USA

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