The lovely TheTeaFairy gave me a list of Oolongs that she recommended for my upcoming exploration of Oolongs. One of them was a Whispering Pines tea, and I have wanted to try Brandon’s teas out for awhile, as the folks I follow here seem to universally enjoy them . So I ordered an ounce each of 6, including the Oolong. This, obviously, is not a review of the oolong, as I’m going to wait until I have ordered the other oolongs on the list to do a series of tastings of them. Can I say oolong one more time? Oolong.
Anyway, since I am waiting, I wanted to try out one of the other 5 teas, and I choose this one to start with. I ripped open the envelope and the scent is lovely. Tried to scoop up a teascoop of leaves, and they were not cooperating, but the couple I did get were blue-black and nice looking. Tried again, and this time I got a nice scoopful and a very bedraggled… feather? Oh my. It was quite beat up and barely recognizable as such, but definitely was one as I peered at it under a magnifying glass.
I always did picture the Jabberwocky as a partially feathered creature…
The feather looks like it got roasted along with the tea, so I think it’s been in there awhile. Pretty sure that any mites that might have been able to hitch a ride would have passed away through roasting and lack of lunch by now, I’m going to pretend all is well and assume it probably will be. I am far less freaked out by this than the human hair I found in a mini-tuocha of pu-erh once. Which, I don’t know what that says about my own mental foibles… :D
Okay, it’s all brewed up, I’ve frothed my sweetener and half&half, and added the tea. The liquor was a nice medium brown. My cup tastes malty and I am quite enjoying it. It’s not a heavy malt, but it’s there, and I don’t notice any bird-like aftertaste. We will see if I start sprouting feathers later today ;)
There was a small sticker holding the “thanks for your order” note to the box, and I quite liked it. It’s from e.e. cummings: “Your head is a living forest full of songbirds.”
giggle The quote seems quite fitting now!
Preparation
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So sorry that you found a feather in your tea! Unfortunately, this is a very common problem, even (especially) for very high-end teas. Because of the time consuming hands-on processing that goes into the tea itself, it’s nearly impossible to produce tea without foreign matter getting into it. I do try to inspect all of the teas thoroughly after arrival at headquarters as well as during the blending process, but as I’m sure you can understand, you can’t always get ‘em all! :-)
I hope that it won’t affect your experience with Whispering Pines! I can assure you that because of the high heat used in the processing of the tea, there is no need to worry of bacteria or anything harmful in the tea itself.
I’m glad you enjoyed this and look forward to more of your tasting notes! :-)
Well, I haven’t started clucking (anymore than usual), and I’m not sprouting any feathers, so I think I am fine! :D No worries!
I’m actually brewing up the packet of Second Breakfast which you sent as a sample right now. I think that’s the best name for a tea ever!
Well I’m glad you’re okay! But honestly, would you have been sad if you gained the ability to fly? ;-)
I’m glad you’re enjoying them!
I would not be sad at all! Hehe
So sorry that you found a feather in your tea! Unfortunately, this is a very common problem, even (especially) for very high-end teas. Because of the time consuming hands-on processing that goes into the tea itself, it’s nearly impossible to produce tea without foreign matter getting into it. I do try to inspect all of the teas thoroughly after arrival at headquarters as well as during the blending process, but as I’m sure you can understand, you can’t always get ‘em all! :-)
I hope that it won’t affect your experience with Whispering Pines! I can assure you that because of the high heat used in the processing of the tea, there is no need to worry of bacteria or anything harmful in the tea itself.
I’m glad you enjoyed this and look forward to more of your tasting notes! :-)
Well, I haven’t started clucking (anymore than usual), and I’m not sprouting any feathers, so I think I am fine! :D No worries!
I’m actually brewing up the packet of Second Breakfast which you sent as a sample right now. I think that’s the best name for a tea ever!
Well I’m glad you’re okay! But honestly, would you have been sad if you gained the ability to fly? ;-)
I’m glad you’re enjoying them!
I would not be sad at all! Hehe