North Winds (Old Version)

Tea type
Black Tea
Ingredients
Fujian Xiao Zhong, Yunnan Dian Hong
Flavors
Apricot, Caramel, Chocolate, Carrot, Cocoa, Pepper, Rye, Sweet, Toast, Bread, Berries, Dark Chocolate, Fruity, Malt, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Cake, Molasses, Nutty, Raisins, Walnut, Grain, Hay, Honey, Plum, Dark Bittersweet, Cream, Stonefruit, Cannabis, Yams, Smoke
Sold in
Loose Leaf
Caffeine
High
Certification
Not available
Edit tea info Last updated by Roswell Strange
Average preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 g 10 oz / 298 ml

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88 Tasting Notes View all

  • “I asked for a sample of this tea from MissB because the description was so intriguing. I do end up a little confused since the ingredients list is only “black tea”. Based on the flavors within I am...” Read full tasting note
    87
  • “How have I avoided this one so long?! This is a beautiful, multifaceted, inspiring tea. I’m looking forward to the re-steeps! The first sips were most definitely dark chocolate, then a bit of malt...” Read full tasting note
    96
  • “This was one of the many teas MissB sent my way, and I am quite happy that she did. I’d never tried any Whispering Pines, and this tea is quite nice. Thank you! It’s got that chocolate malt...” Read full tasting note
    86
  • “Thank you Brenden for the sample of this tea! You must read Brenden’s discription of this tea no matter what. It’s charming! A genuine love affair with a place he should live forever! I’m convinced...” Read full tasting note

From Whispering Pines Tea Company

PLEASE MIGRATE YOUR REVIEWS TO THE NEW NORTH WINDS PAGE IF YOU HAVE ALREADY REVIEWED THE NEW NORTH WINDS ON THIS PAGE! Thank you! :-)

Michigan is full of wondrous little towns known for the things they have perfected and small spots of nature that will take your breath away. This tea is inspired by the entire northern area of Michigan, from Traverse City to the Les Cheneaux Islands.

Traverse City is in the northern lower peninsula of the state. They are widely known for their amazing cherries, which are sold alongside other fruits from roadside stands during the summer months. You can get anything cherry here, and it will spoil you for cherries forever. I’ll never be able to eat cherries elsewhere! =)

Heading northward from the cherry capitol of the world and over the longest suspension bridge in the northern hemisphere brings you to Mackinac Island. This island is full of little shops, cafes, and bakeries, and they are very well known for their fudge. Any flavor of fudge you can imagine can be found on this island, but you can never go wrong with a piece of dark chocolate fudge as Autumn is closing in!

As the north winds bring you higher and the first snow begins to fall, the Les Cheneaux Islands and surrounding area of the upper peninsula will send chills down your spine. The wind picks up, the lake begins to freeze, and a snowstorm will keep you indoors with a hefty cup of black tea as company. Looking outside at the winter wonderland, you can’t help but notice that you are in the most beautiful place in the world.

Our house black tea for good reason — North Winds is the essence of northern Michigan. Sweet fruity notes of apricot and white grape bring you to Traverse City while heavy dark chocolate notes allow you to have that Mackinac Island fudge desert without having to take the ferry. Notes of toasted rye with cherry preserves show up mid-sip with a beautiful malt and wildflower honey finish. Light hints of sweet potato and clean white pepper mingle through the malt. These velvety smooth, decadent notes combine into a medium-bodied tea with a bold and rustic feel that makes for a perfect breakfast tea — but you’ll want to drink this all day long!

North Winds is blended seasonally to achieve the most balanced flavor profile. The current offering is a blend of Spring and Autumn 2014 material from Fujian and Yunnan provinces of China.

The recommended brewing style for North Winds is Gongfu Style.

Western Style:
Steep 1/2 tablespoon (1.9g) of leaves in 8 ounces of 205ºF water for 3 minutes.
2nd infusion: 5 minutes.
3rd infusion: 8 minutes.

Gongfu Style:
Use 1g of leaf per 30ml (1 fl. oz.) of 205ºF water
Infusion times: 30s, 15s, 30s, 45s, 1m15s, 2m, 3m

Notes:
Honey
Cocoa
Apricot
Toasted Rye
White Grape
Malt
Cream
Cherry
White Pepper

About Whispering Pines Tea Company View company

Whispering Pines Tea Company is dedicated to bringing you the most original, pure, beautiful tea blends. We use only the highest quality ingredients available to create additive-free teas teas inspired by the pristine wilderness of Northern Michigan. Our main focus is on customer satisfaction and quality.

88 Tasting Notes

90
737 tasting notes

Thought this was gonna be stronger, but it was still good. I don’t like teas that only taste like honey, but I love teas with the perfect combo of honey and malt. Also pretty chocolatey. So it’s definitely a win!
Black teas are always gonna amaze me, I tell ya! I still think it’s crazy how much flavor black teas have. I never even tried them because I thought they’d just taste like…I don’t know…Wood or something….Which makes like 0 sense. But I’m not too bright.
Haha I’m just so glad that I have come to realize how freakin’ magical black teas can be! Anyway, this tea is definitely a win! I have a bad feeling I’m gonna spend a lot of money on these WP teas. I blame TheTeaFairy…she makes all of the WP teas sound amazing. But hey, least her reviews are spot on! :P

Flavors: Chocolate, Honey, Malt

TheTeaFairy

Aww, don,t ever say that about yourself, you are as bright as sunshine :-) I’m so glad you are enjoying more black teas, they are my first love!

Ost

I can see they’re your favorite. Your tasting notes make all of them sound magical! ^^

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97
694 tasting notes

I got my wonderful Whispering Pines sample pack in the mail on Friday! Woot Woot. MzPriss, and Nicole allowed me to try Ailoashan Black Tea as well as Golden Orchard, but while I was waiting for Ailoashan to be restocked I ordered a few more samples. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this is the base for Golden Orchard. I remember commenting when drinking GO that whatever the base was would be amazing too. I was so right. This is quite the treat. it is rich, dark, and very cocoa. This is not honey sweet, but like having dark, dark chocolate. It would be really interesting to try a cup of this and GO side by side. This one will go on the wish list. I just checked the site, it looks like all the black teas that I am interested in are in stock…. oh man.

TheTeaFairy

Steepster ate my comment :-(
Anyways, glad you are enjoying the tea :-)

MzPriss

I’m so glad you like it. I am down to my last tablespoon, but I believe the Tea Whiz of the Woods is sending me more today.

mj

I just ordered a sample of this :-)

TeaTiff

TTF – I think I saw something in my mail about chocolate. I think I need to keep this around for those days of pure chocolate cravings. Has anyone tried sugar. I feel so bad adding sugar to such a fine tea, but man as chocolaty as this taste I think it would be an interesting treat. MizPriss… Tea Whiz of the Woods. I like it! MJ- I hope you enjoy your sample. Do you get to also try Golden Orchird?

MzPriss

@Tiff – actually Tea Whiz of the Woods is a TeaFairy creation – I have adopted that from her :) (but he is)

mj

I ordered 2 oz of GO with the samples!

MzPriss

You are going to love that GO so so so much and like I told you before – welcome to your new addiction :)

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90
184 tasting notes

ok, i like this tea. i LIKE this tea. I didn’t want to like it, because it seems to be trending on Steepster right now (june 2014) and I didn’t want to get on the bandwagon, as I am one who bucks trends. Hard. I am also honest. This is a great tea.

This tea is what would happen if Bailin Gong Fu and Yunnan Gold Tips had a baby. A tea born to rule the universe of my mouth. AND I ONLY GOT A SAMPLE!!! It is malty, it is the best chocolate note I’ve had in a tea yet. (I added milk and the tea held up to the milk wonderfully…perhaps even bringing more roundness to the chocolate note) Bailin Gong Fu is a bit intense for me at times, and Yunnan Gold Tips is a bit understated for the mornings where I want a good cup of breakfast tea. Here… Here in my cup right now is something I feel was created just for me.

I am originally from Michigan, you know. :)

Flavors: Chocolate, Honey, Malt

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 10 OZ / 295 ML
Whispering Pines Tea Company

Hehehe, and that, ladies and gentlemen, is how a review is done ;)

So glad you like this one! :D

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Can’t wait to hear what you think of Golden Orchid! ;)

donkeyteaarrrraugh

Neither can I! :)

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90
761 tasting notes

Got this one from Courtney and it is both mineraly/raisiny/plummy and also cocoa/chocolatey. It is a quite nice black. I was able to enjoy this one without milk this morning, though I would like to see how it is with.

Quite enjoyable.

ohfancythat

I like this one also, haven’t tried it with milk yet!

Courtney

So far it looks like my teas have found great home. Yay.

Plunkybug

Yup, thanks!

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237 tasting notes

From the Tea and Cards TTB: Oh wow, the beautiful honey and malt notes of this tea are haunting me. I love the floaty cocoa notes and the texture of this. I found the dry leaf aroma to be quite underwhelming in comparison to the taste. I guess that’s a good thing though. Better that than the other way around

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96
1118 tasting notes

Comfort tea. My son and I were in a car accident earlier today. We, as well as the driver of the other car, are fine (thank goodness!), but it still rattled me. I’ve been extra jumpy and sensitive, so I decided to calm myself with this lovely tea. Right now it’s everything I need it to be – hot, soothing, delicious, and easy to resteep. Sigh.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
carol who

Glad you are alright… how’s the car? This kind of thing really can shake you up!

darby

Oh no! Take care. Accidents, no matter how small, can rattle you for life! My hubby complains about my back seat driving because of an accident I was in.

Veronica

Thanks. The car is dented but we can still drive it. I’ve been in an accident before but never with my child in the car. That’s what shook me up the most. My son, on the other hand, has already moved passed it and is happily playing in his room.

Darby, I completely understand! I backseat drive for the same reason. This is the second time I’ve been hit because someone didn’t see me in their blind spot. I want to tell everyone I drive with “Check your blind spot!” over and over again.

Terri HarpLady

Glad you’re ok!

caile

Glad you are ok!

Michelle

So glad you are okay and that the tea eased your nerves!

Cheri

I’m so glad you’re okay. It is scary when you’re in an accident like that. I had my share earlier this year, and I know I spent quite a while afterward being paranoid about other cars on the road and in parking lots.

Veronica

Thanks everyone!

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75
15049 tasting notes

Had a giant cup of this after breakfast and it was delicious. I’m really struggling to get out and about today knowing that i don’t get to sleep until sometime sunday evening. I also can’t seem to figure out what i want to do about tea tonight. Do i pack a puerh and just drink that all night long? or should i bring things to share… sooo many choices. I’m still enjoying this tea though i’m not sure i’ll need to restock it once i’m through with this ounce. It’s nice, and tasty but nothing “knocks your socks off” spectacular.

Sil

mmm old one probably?

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Probably. There’s a HUGE difference :-) I couldn’t even bring myself to drink the old version, and the new one is my favorite black tea right now. Next time you order, I definitely recommend restocking. If you decide not to, I’ll throw in a sample :-)

Sil

good to know:)

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1113 tasting notes

My first tea from Whispering Pines Thanks so much Boychik!!!

I can see why everyone is raving about this one. Strong cocoa and fruity notes make this one very appealing. Bold and malty and rich! Nom nom nom…perfect for breakfast, or in my case for an afternoon pick-me-up!

:D

Cheri

I really was surprised by this one. Everyone said great things about it, but it really, truly reminded me of the tasting notes from their website.

boychik

Yes ,its really good. i want your opinion on Golden Orchid.

Stephanie

Golden Orchid…same as this but with Vanilla beans, right? YUM

Cheri

I wish I’d gotten some of this, just to try it.

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Yay! Good first impressions :) hehe

Cheri

Edit…mine was supposed to say THAT not THIS as in I wanted to try Golden Orchid…. Geeze Louise! It’s been one of those days. Need to go home. Need stronger tea.

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85
518 tasting notes

This tea is not in what I would have called my tea wheelhouse. I’m not a fan of black teas, really, unless they’re flavored. But I ordered a sample of this one just based on the inspiration from the website. (Seriously, read the whole description of this tea. I mean read it. Traverse City, Mackinac Island, bridges (although I have to point out that you can’t take the Mighty Mac to the island), yes, this tea is supposed to remind me of a trip Up North.

So I added this sample, because I’ve been wanting and needing a trip up north (we’ve got one scheduled for next month, but that’s sooooo far away!)

And wow, you nailed this one. It is sweet, almost like a cherry, not quite, but yes, and chocolaty, like good dark Mackinac Island Fudge. I love the malt in this one. Not too malty, but just enough.

This mug really makes me want Northern Michigan all that much more. If you’ve never been, I suggest you go sometime. It is peaceful and laid back in a way that I just can’t explain. And beautiful. I love Michigan. I love Up North.

I’m really enjoying this tea. Like I said, it’s not my normal tea, but it is nice. I would like to have this one occasionally, when I need an escape Up North.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 15 OZ / 443 ML
boychik

you convinced me. I’m going ;)

Whispering Pines Tea Company

I’m finally moving back…in a week! I can’t even contain my excitement!!!

Whispering Pines Tea Company

I’m so glad that you get the references in my descriptions…I feel like a lot of people don’t TRULY understand Up North. I know that before I lived there, if you had told me that the most beautiful place in the world is northern Michigan, I would have laughed in your face ;)

Cheri

I’m sooo happy for you! If I could live way up there, I would, but my spouse’s job does not allow for telecommuting most of the time. (Mine does, so I can work from anywhere he needs to be.)

I’ve been to both of these places, and I just love it up there. At least it’s only a “short” drive to Traverse City or the UP and we can make long weekends or even week long get aways.

yyz

Yay, to returning to a place you love Brendan! Up north, what a term… Growing up, up north was anywhere North of Barrie(less than an hour from Toronto). I don’t know why because I’d been to Wawa on Lake Superior a number of times when I was little, but the ridiculousness of my perspective didn’t hit me until I worked in Chapleau for two summers and experienced the 8-12 he drive up there and entered the Arctic watershed while watching the seasons regress that my perspective changed and even then several members of Steepster live in places much further north than that. I lived in a Crown Game Preserve and experienced worse culture shock coming home than when I returned from India. There is something amazing about being surrounded by life! The furthest North I’ve been is Iqaluit but only for a short period of time.

Cheri

In metro Detroit, the term Up North is loosely interpreted as anywhere “north” of here, although it can also mean west in some cases. It’s getting out of the Big City and into the “wilderness”. Where I grew up, Up North was my family cottage 45 minutes away, about 2 miles north, mostly to the west. But it was on a lake and out of suburbia. Interestingly enough, that’s now mostly suburbia out there as well, so I’m not sure it counts as Up North anymore.

yyz

It’s always changing isn’t it? How awesome to have a cottage only 45 mine away. My cousin’s is in a beautiful spot it’s on a finger bay off Georgian Bay. It’s private enough that it seems to be on a private lake but they have easy access to the Great Lakes watershed. There is a wildlife reserve on one side ( The first time I was there, I went jogging and saw a bear), but it’s @2.5 hrs to get there.

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Yep! I don’t think I could consider any larger cities “up north”. I’m moving to a city of 450 people (White Pine, MI) right next to the Porcupine Mountains. Now THAT’S up north ;)

Cheri

I haven’t been to the Porcupine Mountains, but it’s on my list of places I want to go in Pure Michigan.

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Well if you make it up to that area, let me know and we can break out some of my reserve teas! :)

Cheri

Definitely!

mj

LOL I grew up in Florida, so up north was anywhere north of the mason-dixon line.

Cheri

Funny you say that. I have a friend from Florida who is coming to visit later this summer, and he said that it’s his “first trip up north because it’ll be the first time [he’ll] be north of the mason-dixon line.”

mj

That is funny! He definitely picked the right time of year to visit “up north”.

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79
127 tasting notes

The dry leaves scent remind me of my favorite black from Adagio, Yunnan Jig. The steeped cup is vaguely similar to that tea, but this one has a nice subtle chocolate note. Definitely a wonderful full bodied tea. I prefer Golden Orchid over this one, but this is still a nice everyday black, whereas I feel like I need to make time to savor Golden Orchid when I drink it.

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