This was one of the samples that I ordered from Whispering Pines. It smells totally amazing – like cinnamon and berry and baked apples. Yummy! I did the recommended 1.5 tsp for 5 minutes.

I actually made this twice. My first try was last night, and I thought the tea came out very weak for my tastes. So I put off writing anything about it until I tried it again today. So I made it again in the same way (the sample was just enough for two cups) hoping it would come out differently. However, it still tastes very weak to me. Reading through the other reviews of this tea, I can’t help but feel like I somehow did something wrong. I wanted to love this tea so much, I really love the smell of it. I think I’ll have to buy some in the future and try it again, just to see if this was a fluke…

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
donkeyteaarrrraugh

I found my sample of one of their teas to be short of making 2 cups…. I used the whole sample on a 12 oz mug. Since I ordered the 3 pack of samples, on my next cup I’ll probably drop it to a 10 oz mug to get a bit more flavor, as it’s a sample and I’m supposed to decide if I’m going to order based on the one mug. Sorry you had a steep flop. I have them quite often, especially with samples!

Cameron B.

Luckily it’s a very inexpensive tea, so I’ll have no problem ordering some when I buy from Whispering Pines. :)

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Hmm, this is strange! Generally the thing I hear most about Elder Grove is that it’s strong! Hmm….

Donkeytiara, that is also strange…I personally scoop out two servings for each sample. It’s definitely possible that I underscooped or the tea was smashed on the way :( Sorry it didn’t fill your cup twice! Which sample was it, by the way?

Whispering Pines Tea Company

And Cameron, it’s possible that I didn’t shake up the sample tin enough before scooping. The chicory tends to sink to the bottom, and that’s where a lot of the boldness comes from.

Cameron B.

Don’t worry about it! The price is extremely reasonable so I’ll just have to order it one of these days. :D

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Thanks for understanding, and I’m glad you liked Golden Orchid, too! :D

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Comments

donkeyteaarrrraugh

I found my sample of one of their teas to be short of making 2 cups…. I used the whole sample on a 12 oz mug. Since I ordered the 3 pack of samples, on my next cup I’ll probably drop it to a 10 oz mug to get a bit more flavor, as it’s a sample and I’m supposed to decide if I’m going to order based on the one mug. Sorry you had a steep flop. I have them quite often, especially with samples!

Cameron B.

Luckily it’s a very inexpensive tea, so I’ll have no problem ordering some when I buy from Whispering Pines. :)

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Hmm, this is strange! Generally the thing I hear most about Elder Grove is that it’s strong! Hmm….

Donkeytiara, that is also strange…I personally scoop out two servings for each sample. It’s definitely possible that I underscooped or the tea was smashed on the way :( Sorry it didn’t fill your cup twice! Which sample was it, by the way?

Whispering Pines Tea Company

And Cameron, it’s possible that I didn’t shake up the sample tin enough before scooping. The chicory tends to sink to the bottom, and that’s where a lot of the boldness comes from.

Cameron B.

Don’t worry about it! The price is extremely reasonable so I’ll just have to order it one of these days. :D

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Thanks for understanding, and I’m glad you liked Golden Orchid, too! :D

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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, KBeauty, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- January Sipdowns: 6
- Total 2024 Sipdowns: 6

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. Occasionally I’ll brew Gongfu style when I’m in the mood. I’ll also often use a kyusu for Japanese teas.

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 also enjoy maté, rooibos, and honeybush. I love matcha and drink it often! Fruit tisanes are not a favorite, but I’m always willing to try them.

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

Fruit: All of them! My ‘go-to’s tend to be in the red fruits, stonefruit, or citrus spectra. I also really love apple, banana, berry, fig, lychee, melon, pear, and rhubarb flavors. Tropical fruits aren’t among my favorites, but I still enjoy them once in a while – especially passionfruit, mango, and pineapple. I am not generally a fan of coconut in tea, though there are some exceptions.

Dessert: I love creamy vanilla and marshmallow flavors, along with anything in the caramel family such as butterscotch, toffee, or maple. Chocolate is also a favorite, though I’m often disappointed by it in tea. And don’t forget anything buttery, cakey, or cookie-y!

Floral: I’m a little bit more particular in this category. I very much enjoy jasmine, even strong jasmine, along with sakura, chamomile, and elderflower. Osmanthus is also a favorite of mine. But I’m not crazy about rose or lavender flavors, and I prefer hibiscus in moderation only.

Spices: I don’t generally find myself drawn to masala chai, but I do enjoy spices combined with other flavors. My favorite spices are the warm ones, especially cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, and cardamom. A bit of heat from black pepper or chili is okay too, as long as it’s not overwhelming! Ginger can be a lovely accent, but I find it difficult to drink as a starring flavor.

Aromatics: I’m obsessed with Earl Grey! I also love cooling flavors such as mint (especially spearmint), pine, juniper, and eucalyptus. I am not a fan of strong rosemary or sage in tea.

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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