Whispering Pines Tea Company

Crazily, I added a pinch of 52teas’ Butterbeer to the leaves for my third and probably final steep of this pu-erh tonight. As soon as I added the pinch to the infuser I started kicking myself – Rose Congou would have been a much more reasonable choice. Luckily, the addition turned out pretty good and didn’t result in an undrinkable cup of tea. Its definitely growing on me!

I’m back!!! I’ve been lurking for awhile, but it is finally getting to be tea weather again down here in Texas. I went home early from work today almost doubled over in pain because of some stomach bug I probably caught from my students. If I hadn’t made up this tea earlier I’d probably still be in pain and having to call in to work tomorrow – but pu-erh to the rescue! I seem to be getting everything the kids have this year which is strange because after teaching for a few years your immune system is usually pretty strong. It was strong last year at least. So glad I got a flu shot because otherwise I’d probably get the flu also.

Anyways, on to the tea. After a thorough 30 sec rinse in boiling water, I steeped it for 3 min 30 sec. I added a little sugar (just a tad) and this lovely, earthy tea was ready. I don’t crave pu-erh super often, but I’m always asking myself why I haven’t had it in so long once I get around to making it. Unfortunately, I only have one cute little bird’s nest left so I’ll probably be saving it for another bad tummy day. This stuff is a miracle when it comes to that.

I’m back! I’ve been drinking tea in my absence, but not as much as usual. I pulled this out of the cupboard tonight, gave it a good rinse, and steeped for about 1.5 minutes. Overall, its pretty good. Nice and earthy, but not too earthy. There is a hint of sweetness as the cup cools slightly. I like it, but it isn’t knocking my socks off tonight.

This is one of my mystery swap samples from Shadowfall \(^o^)/

I hadn’t had any teas from Whispering Pines before this. I’ve been curious, but afraid to order anything from there. This tea seemed safe enough and it didn’t smell smoky, so I figured it couldn’t be too bad.

The dry leaf smells earthy, almost like a pu-erh but not quite. It brews up the color of a dark oolong and tastes sweet and woody; a hearty dark oolong. There is nothing delicate about the flavor to me, but you’ll be disappointed if you’re expecting black tea, even though it’s in there too.

I think the flavor is spot on for the natural environment that inspired it.

4/5 (see my bio for more info on my new pared down scale)

Been drinking a lot of this cold steeped as it’s, you know, July. It reminds me a lot of jamaica agua fresca/Jamaican sorrel, the same pretty hibiscus tea color with some tartness, with the added dimension of warmth the ginger brings. Very refreshing and satisfying, aptly named as it feels more like a summer ade than tea per se, though there is a wonderful, subtle tea element (it’s a tisane though, so I’m not exactly sure where it comes from…warm spices perhaps?) that sets it apart. Betting my husband will dig it a lot when he tries it.

As a bonus, it’s very easy going to ice; I think it’d be hard to over steep it. I just stick it in a big mason jar in the fridge and strain it off glass by glass, topping off the jar as needed, and it’s always good. Can definitely see it becoming a summer iced tea staple.

Another retry here.
Going to measure this out, I was pretty surprised at the amount of twigs/sticks I see mixed in with this tea. I don’t think I noticed this when I first got it because I was pretty new to loose leaf tea and figured that’s how some teas were. But looking at it now, I’d kinda surprising.
The brew smells kinda like burnt coffee, but I’m wondering if that’s how it’s supposed to taste, or if it was just because my water was too hot. I followed the instructions on the front, actually used slightly cooler water than they recommended but only by a few degrees.
Thankfully the tea doesn’t taste like burnt coffee. It’s vaguely fruity? And kinda woodsy maybe? Hard to pin down actually. It’s just a sort of generic tasting tea.
Maybe my taste is all wonky or something, because it’s very strange to me that all of these teas I’ve been trying from them are just so overall vague and meh. Maybe I’ll go back in another few months and give them all a shot again to see if anything has changed again.
Unfortunately this one is getting tossed in the swap bin for now, and rated accordingly.

Backlogged review from a few days ago so this is probly not going to be very informative. I’ll definitely have to add to this review when I drink it again.
I can’t remember if I brewed according to instructions or tried a lower temp because it was an oolong and I didn’t want it to get bitter. I want to say I followed instructions since I always do when I make a tea for the first time, them adjust accordingly.
Not bitter at all whatever I did. (I know, terribly unhelpful. Sorry.)
I do remember that this was a pretty good tea all things considering. And I also remember thinking that this would be a good one to add some vanilla to, either by blending it with another tea or adding the flavoring directly.

I’d possibly reorder this sometime since I don’t have any bad impressions of it. It’s just I don’t have any strong ones either. Lol. ^^;

Backlog tasting from a few nights ago that I totally forgot to put down here. Lol.
Continuing on the re-tasting on all my Pines teas, this was next up. I had originally tossed this in my ‘Possible reorder’ bin, but on re-tasting it, I’ve since moved it to my swap bin unfortunately.
It’s just a very unremarkable tea to me now. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve tasted so many other teas that I’d rather prefer since first tasting this, or what, but now I’m kinda just ‘Meh’ with this.
It’s got a pleasant, woody smell to the brew that comes over in the actual drinking of this tea, but not overpowering, just subtle and easy like. First sip is strange, like tart/sharp/something odd to it, but really only on the first sip or two. No, or very little, astringency to note which is always nice to find in a tea. It’s also got a very very faint smokey (?) taste to it, but I’m entirely unsure on this one. Maybe that’s the sharpness I taste just starting to drink it.
Overall, I’d rather have other teas in my cupboard. Or if I was choosing from this company, I’d take the Yunnan Gold (which I know is a different type of tea, but whatever. XD)

Backlog – This was the other tea I drank in the mountains, as it too was very fitting. I made it the second evening we were there, when we went wading across a shallow portion of the river to a little island, man it was cold on the feet! I took this tea in my Timolino and got a picture of me holding it on the island, might have to upload it later haha. Oh, and another tea my boyfriend tried, and this one he really really liked! Might have to order more of it even! We also took it with us on our hike the next morning around a bunch of lakes and it went perfectly with the pine air. See previous notes on this tea :)

I’ve had this tea a few times without logging, my bad! Tonight i will though, and I’ll try to get a second steep in before bed too :)

So the dry leaves are a lovely mix of thin, poky pine needles and green tea leaves. The dry smell is quite faint, but fresh and a bit green and jasminy. I steeped for 1 and a half mins, and the resulting liquor is a bright sunny light yellow. The steeper smells of pine, Yay! The tea is very mild smelling on comparison, but still fresh

The first steep is pretty light, but I think more flavorful than previous cups. Maybe because I had a nice lower water temperature or a better ratio of leaves (almost a tablespoon for around 10 oz). Regardless, it is pretty good. The floral scent of very light jasmine wafts up and is present in the taste at the start, and a buttery, fresh warmth takes over. In the middle of the steep, a hint of pine comes out, cooling, like taking a breath of morning air in the forest. I’m not sure if I can detect the hint of citrus, but the cup is very refreshing and relaxing at the same time.

Overall, this is quite a delicious tea. Maybe I wasn’t quite in the mood for previous cups, but I can see the beauty in this one tonight. It is a light, subtle flavoring that blends wonderfully, but not one that smacks you in the face. Very pleased with this cup tonight :) i might even get the boyfriend to try a cup sometime, he thought it smelled pretty good :)

ETA – I made a second steep! I don’t think I’ll be awake enough to finish the cup, but the half I’ve had is really good, the pine really does come out in this one, but still meshes with the other flavors! So happy I have more of this tea, it provides a nice different spectrum of flavors!

I just love this tea.
Like if it were a fella, I would marry him.
I mainly reordered from Whispering Pines Tea because I had just enough of this left for one cup.
However, when I went to place my order, I did not see Chocolate Oolong.
I immediately contacted Brenden pretty much in a full on panic.
He quickly reassured me that he still carried the tea, he just changed the name.
So, I ordered a whole bunch.
But, still, when I was pouring it in to its special tin, I mumbled to myself that I should have ordered more, this just did not look like enough.
Nutty, Salty, firewood and seaweed with a bit of spice and rich avocado.
Yum.

Seriously, People…this tea is the bomb.
I have had a terrible day already and its not even over yet (2:00 in the afternoon here)
I literally said aloud “chocolate oolong” exactly three times today, just to give me courage to move on and remind myself that when it was over I could have a giant mug of this tea.
This tea is much more savory than sweet to me, despite the name.
Nutty, oaky and a slight salty seaweed note.
This tea is so comforting.
Its repairing my mind and soul already.
Ahhh…maybe its not too late to have an awesome day after all.

Having this tea this morning.
We are having company coming in this weekend, and I awoke this morning and saw the house as someone might who is just coming in the door.
I then had a small coronary event and then put the kettle on.
We have been putting all our energy into our new farm this year and the house sort of took a back burner.
So, I must try to make some sense of this mess, or I could just tell the guests that we were robbed…
I needed a brave and supportive tea this morning.
My hand hovered briefly over an assam, but no, this is the tea that I needed.
Its Tall, Dark and Encouraging.
Freaking out about the house?
This tea just smiles a little and says “We got this, babe”
What always throws me for a loop is the instructions to make this tea, you use boiling water and let it steep for 5 minutes.
It feels so un-oolong-like.
Hubby took a sip of this tea, and said “Puerh?” I said No, its a Oolong actually.
But, I understand why he first thought this.
This tea is quite earthy and nutty.
Sometimes, on the second or third steeping I get a bit of seaweed note coming through.
Also, notes of oak.
But, as I said before, It is still an Oolong.
Very glad I got this tea, I can not wait to share it with one of my house guests who I know enjoys Oolong.

I got my Whispering Pines Tea order in the mail today.
I have been wanting to try this tea since Brenden first introduced it.
So badly have I been wanting to try this, that even though I live 40 minutes away from where my mail arrives, and even though I still had a day of running around and doing errands to do, I actually drove all the way back home to prepare this tea and put it in a go mug.
( I would not admit this to many people, but, I know you dear fellow Steepsters understand this tea-driven bit of craziness )
Now, if I had not been listening to Sense and Sensibility on audio book in the car and if I had turned on the tv or radio once I got home, instead of dancing impatiently ’round the kettle I would have heard the major storm warnings, and the telling people to stay off the roads.
Instead, I left the house, noticed that it was a rather black looking sky (where we live every couple of days it looks as if our world may end, we get storms blowing through from Nevada, Utah, Montana and Wyoming…when to be scared is when those storms collide with one another, such as today)
Just as I was getting to the bit in the book where Marianne insists on taking a walk even though its stormy, and as the audio book lady said “suddenly the clouds united over their heads and a driving rain set full in their faces”,blinding sheets of rain and hail hit my car fast!
I could barely see, but thought I saw a turn out or a dirt road or something other than the main highway I was on, so I pulled off as far as I could and waited out the storm, which lasted 20 minutes.
Lightening struck all around me.
It was frightening, BUT I had hot tea.
To distract myself from probable electrocution I concentrated on the tasting of the tea.
I am not one for chocolate flavored teas.
Then why on earth did you want to try this tea so badly, I am sure you are asking, because it is as I hoped, not really exactly like chocolate.
Its more roasty and toasty, more like toasted nuts.
Has notes of oak and seaweed.
Its rich and dark and unexpected.
And yet, still not losing one bit of its oolong-ness.
Although a Mr. Willoughby did not come to my rescue, I had something better accompanying me during the storm.
I very much look forward to drinking more of this tea…from the safety of my arm chair at home.

MMmmmmm having a big pot of this trying to stay awake…. D:

Probably not the best tea to be drinking at 10:30pm… But you know… Two weeks off equals who cares what time I go to bed. Party! Kind of… Anyways I made this to go with dinner. Which was curry and rice. And it was perfect! The flavor I’m getting the most of is the peppermint. The tulsi and mate is more in the background. I’m not complaining.. I really like this blend. It’s smooth and has a really nice herbal flavor.

whoa!
so many of my swap samples are green teas that i just assumed this was a green tea. but it’s SO NOT a green tea.
did i tell you i love tulsi?! i do i do i really do. i can’t explain why, it has a subtle tonic taste to it maybe? herbal and fresh? anyways, this is a roasted maté & tulsi blend and it is just plain old sparkling in my mouth!
i’m sure the peppermint and safflower add to that sensation to. no doubt. but this is earthy and herbaly and balanced.
what a great surprise cup. i only steeped it for 3 minutes instead of 5. i’ll try it longer next time, but i like it this way too obviously.
thank you so much KallieBoo!

My boyfriend’s aunt went on a trip and brought back a GIANT jar of local honey she found for me. Ohhh it’s pretty awesome in this tea. I think it’s becoming my favorite rooibos :)

Added some honey to this and it’s amazing. It’s warm, sweet, and very graham cracker like!

I’m going through all my Whispering Pines teas again because all the black teas I’ve gotten from them seem to be blurring together. I can’t really remember distinctions or what I really liked and what was just alright. It’s probly my head since I’ve tried so many teas since I got these. But it’s a good excuse to drink them all again I guess. Lol.
This one wasn’t too bad, though it’s a lot more ‘meh’ than I remember it being. Cedary smell to the brew, though it tastes completely different. Malty and slightly fruity. I like it better with a bit of Truvia added, but not too much or it’d overpower the rest of the tea I’d think.
But again, this one I find unremarkable. I’ll finish what I have, but I probly won’t be reordering.

Tea number 4.
Nice with a pleasant astringency. Good strong black tea taste to it. This is the best way I can think to describe it. When I get more familiar with tastes and terms and whatnot, I’ll try to come back and update this review.
Not getting much honey, though adding a bit of truvia made it nice. I’m also getting the cedar as a back note, but it’s not as bad as I was thinking it was going to be. I could see this being a nice tea to have in the morning.

Second tea on the roster today. My first milk oolong and I’m on the fence about it.
1st infusion – The brew has a smell of cooked veggies, spinach-y greenness and it tastes the same as it smells. Normally I don’t care too much for such a taste, but this is one that I keep sipping at. Lol. I don’t get the peaches taste that the desc describes, but maybe that’s why I keep sipping it. To try and find that. Maybe on the next infusion I’ll get it a bit better.
But it is pretty smooth and I only get a smidge of astringency out of it. No sugar added to this. I don’t think it would go well with the veggie taste. Sweet cooked spinach. Ugh. Lol.

2nd infusion – Same temp/4 min – Definitely getting better. The veggie smell/taste is toned way down for which I appreciate. It’s gotten sweeter and I might be getting a hint of peaches or something similar. Not too bad. Again, no sugar added to it.

I’m not sure I’d reorder this one, but it was a good one to try and I always enjoy something different.
When I get around to doing gongfu style brewings this might be a good candidate for it. I’d be interested to see what sort of flavors come out of it.