Whispering Pines Black Tea

It seems that I’m going to be the first one to review this tea!
(An earthquake and rattle of chains!)

Ha! Not to worry! I liked this tea!

Here’s why!

Right up front Whispering Pines comes out and says “There’s a hint of Lapsang Souchong in this cozy cabin fire Black Tea!” and that’s exactly what you get.
More like a Woodsman with the skill and restraint of a Fairy Godmother’s Wand… dusted this tea with Lapsang Souchong, I’m thinking.

The flavor was pretty smooth and mild, even bright like a light Assam at first. Not bakery bread or malty tasting and not the slightest bit astringent.

I added sweetening and later cream. To my taste, the sweetening was best and went with the smokiness which had become stronger as the tea cooled.

By far, this was my favorite of the Whispering Pines Black Tea blends and would be easy to drink through the coming Fall and Winter months especially with a little toast and jam to go along with the smoky brew!

First, some background:
My first try with this sample was yesterday, and I shared it with the s.o. – who had also never tried a lapsang souchong before. He commented that it tasted, of course, like a campfire. And like scotch.

(Storm prep 101= acquire booze… achievement unlocked)

10:37 am, Alleged Storm Day:
Someone MIGHT have dribbled the teensiest bit of Ardbeg into my second steeping. That same someone might have also added one little brown fancy sugar cube and curled up in her pj’s with a view of the storm. Can’t say for sure. I can say that the first steeping tasted like two very different things; that super primal manmakefirecookbuffalo smell that I find unbelievably sexy, and the house I like to pretend I grew up in. Weird. My grandma’s place is full of antiques, many of them salvaged from her grandmother’s house after the old place had a lightning strike. Camelback steamer trunks, dolls and framed daguerreotypes smell like fire for good reason anyway though.

This. Is. Beautiful.

Wow. This is an amazing black tea. Here we go…

As soon as I opened this package, I was transported to a campfire in the woods on a cold night. (Yes, I’ve been known to camp on cold nights…brr!) The tea leaves give off a subtly smoky aroma, like the charred ashes of a dying fire.

Although I love that smell, I wasn’t sure if I’d like to taste it in a tea. Sure enough, I do! The smoky flavor of the tea is delightful. It really warmed me up inside, making it perfect for cold weather days. I thought the tea was a touch bitter, which is something I come to expect and enjoy in most black teas. It leaves a smoky aftertaste. I’ll be ordering this smooth, rich blend again.