Golden Orchid

I tried this tea twice and I just don’t care for it. The first time, I followed the brewing guidelines on the package. (NB: I brew Western style.) The tea was unremarkable. I tasted very little vanilla, but perhaps I didn’t stir the contents of the tea pouch enough.

I brewed a second batch (new leaves, well-stirred) using my traditional brewing method, 212F at 2:00 minutes. The tea was actually bitter and made me belch. I’m really sorry about that, because, at $10/oz., this was a rather pricey failed experiment. However, I gave the rest of it to my friend, who loves it, so an ill wind and so on.

I’m continuing to clear out the backlog with this one. It took longer than expected for me to get to this tea. I was aware that it was very popular and had a great reputation here on Steepster, and I think that may have played a role in my initial lack of desire to review it. Everyone had already said so much about this particular blend, what, if anything could I add? Well, now I am finally getting around to reviewing this blend and I have to say that I found it to be incredible. I have long felt that some of the best offerings from Whispering Pines Tea Company are their blends and my experience with this one only further reinforced that opinion.

I prepared this tea gongfu style. After a flash rinse, I steeped 6 grams of the loose blended material in 4 ounces of 205 F water for 5 seconds. This infusion was chased by 14 subsequent infusions. Steep times for these infusions were as follows: 7 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, 20 seconds, 25 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds, 50 seconds, 1 minute, 1 minute 15 seconds, 1 minute 30 seconds, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, and 5 minutes.

Prior to the rinse, I detected aromas of vanilla, chocolate, honey, spices, and stone fruits. After the rinse, I found new aromas of raisin, malt, orange, leather, and wood. The bouquet of the first infusion was practically identical. I found mild notes of vanilla, malt, cream, wood, and chocolate in the mouth. Subsequent infusions brought out orange, black cherry, raisin, toast, leather, honey, plum, and mineral notes. I also found touches of camphor on the finish. When I focused in, I could detect additional notes of baked bread, clove, anise, nutmeg, menthol, and eucalyptus as well. The later infusions primarily offered mineral, baked bread, toast, cream, malt, and wood notes underscored by fleeting impressions of vanilla and calming, cooling herbal notes.

When I first tried this, it took me a couple minutes to adjust to it. I think I was expecting it to be much sweeter than it was, but fortunately, this was a very balanced, complex blend with a wonderful mix of aromas and flavors. The vanilla never came close to overpowering what the tea base had to offer. Instead, they complimented one another beautifully. Furthermore, I greatly appreciated the fact that no artificial ingredients were used in this blend. Overall, I have a hard time imagining that there is a much better vanilla black tea blend on the market. Definitely make a point of trying this one.

Wow! This was a delight to the senses! So many flavours without any conflict, in a single cup. In the three cups I partook of this tea, I absolutely loved the hints of dark chocolate and the mix of fruits.

I came upon this tea during a visit to a friend who has just returned from Spain, for a work assignment. Interesting that he got the tea from a flatmate there who found this tea too complex for his taste. My Indian palate, is not averse to complexities. I exchanged whatever was left of my friend’s tea for all my organic Nilgiri coffee stash.

Although I won’t say that I regret it, for the tea was quite a happy surprise, I could have retained half my coffee stash. I have just two cups’ worth left. I hope tomorrow will be a more exciting day with this tea.

P.S. – I realised that my earlier reviews were not very detailed. I have tried to amend that with this review.

Mastress Alita’s Monthly Sipdown Challenge
January 2022 → A tea with bean notes

After two failed attempts at finding legumes in my tea, it seems that I’ll be following suit and using vanilla bean for this sipdown prompt. I’m stealing this fabulous idea from the others who have already used it. Thank you, friends.

This is a really beautiful tea, as so many here can attest. The flavor and aroma are pure vanilla bean, not vanilla flavoring (though I like that too). Seeing so many vanilla bean specks swirl around in my cup reminds me how special this tea really is.

I’m buzzing from all the caffeine I’ve had today, but I want to sneak in one more cup before it gets too late. I might regret it by bedtime, but I’ll deal with that later.

Personal update on our TNR trap session – we caught our stray kitty! He’ll be off to the vet tomorrow and then hopefully released right back in our yard on Tuesday. Happy day!

Excellent – thoroughly enjoyable. Always remember to mix up the tea before measuring out the leaves or the vanilla flavor will be very weak. Very generous with the vanilla bean – there was so much of it! All of the main flavors others have mentioned were there: cocoa, vanilla, malt. Also a tiny bit of what I call “pavilion campfire” – just a touch of smoke. You can overleaf it a little, especially if you do multiple steepings. I’ll be back for more. Hopefully they aren’t out of stock completely, but I know chances are pretty good they are!

I was excited to see this back in stock, so I picked up a couple ounces. I’ve finally had a chance to sit down and have a real tasting, after having some nice cups with family.

Opening the bag and taking a whiff is a real treat! A rush of cocoa and vanilla, with nice maltiness to back it up. A bit like fresh brownies.

The tea steeps a nice dark brown, and retains the lovely aroma.

The taste is exceptional! Smooth and full, lots of flavors. No need for sugar, as the vanilla beans give just the right amount of sweetness. The black tea blend is excellent, and would stand up well on its own without the vanilla. No corners were cut in putting this blend together. I should note that this tea is flavored with actual beans, which gives it a nice smoothness versus a typical “flavored” tea using extract or other processed flavoring.

A second steeping holds up well, but I find that I need to about double the concentration to maintain the same strength as a first steeping. (In other words, I use half as much water in the second steeping.)

Overall, a superb black tea! It works well as a morning wake-up or an after-dinner dessert companion. This is going on my must-buy list. I don’t usually enjoy “flavored” teas, but this one is done very well. If you prefer “straight” black tea like me, and you’re looking for something with a fuller flavor profile, don’t hesitate to pick this up!

I tried this side by side with Whispering Pines’s Ambrosia. If you’re wondering, this tea uses Madagascar vanilla beans, while Ambrosia uses Tahitian beans. I think the difference between the two is that Ambrosia has a more pronounced vanilla flavor. Other than that, they are identical in my opinion, so their reviews will be very similar.

I absolutely enjoyed this wonderful tea. Chocolate and vanilla, what’s not to love? It was very smooth without any hint of astringency. There are very slight fruity notes hiding in the background.
I really should have got more than the one ounce I ordered. It’s not too soon to make another order yet right…..

I’m so happy to have this back in my collection. I’ve never reviewed it, but I believe this is my third time buying it. Anyway, the last time I got a notification that it was in stock, it sold out before my lunch break was even up. I emailed Brenden jokingly, saying something like “Did Golden Orchid really sell out in an hour??” Turns out it had sold out in 3 minutes. 3 MINUTES! But Brenden is amazing, y’all. He had the ingredients to make more and made me a custom three ounces. He is the best!

That said, the vanilla in this batch just isn’t what I remember. My memory of this tea is richer and I can’t figure out if my taster is broken, or if maybe I’m doing something wrong. The black tea base is still incredible. Luxurious and toasty. But the vanilla is lacking. Can any of you give me some advice on how you personally prepare it? I went with 3 rounded teaspoons for 24 ounces of water for 3 minutes.

Still giving it a high rating because I have faith. And because I would love this tea without the vanilla anyway.

EDIT: I see somebody saying the vanilla-ness tends to sink to the bottom of the packet. I’ll give mine a good shake tomorrow.

Let me just say, where it sates " …mixing up the tea prior to scooping out your desired amount of leaf is recommended…" – Do it!
I had to rewrite my review as the first brew was very floral and I could not note much Vanilla in the cup. So, second time around, yes, very lovely Vanilla. Pleasant and sweet aroma. Later steeps are still somewhat floral, sweet grass, carnation… very nice tea over all, with a sweet treat or a bit sugar.

Update: Drinking this one again today. I’m getting closer to the bottom of the bag, and it seems that’s where all the Vanilla lives ;) Wow, vanilla! Super rich, glorious aroma, reminds me of Tonka Bean, with floral noted. Luxurious, velvety, just wonderful. I’m still smelling the carnation in the base tho in the first two steeping, its a bit confusing. Something in the black tea is throwing me off I think, but its a nice complex cup. I’m starting to enjoy this one a bit more. It has a bit of a bite to it, and minerality, touch of bitterness and it lingers on your senses. Ah third steeping, and I think I finally have it. It has notes of bergamot. Oddly enough;) somehow the aroma profile opened up into this lovely perfume, still strong vanila, sweet yet crisp.