Dark Roast Anxi Tieguanyin

Tea type
Oolong Tea
Ingredients
Oolong Tea Leaves
Flavors
Burnt Sugar, Caramel, Char, Coffee, Dark Bittersweet, Espresso, Oak, Roasted, Smooth, Sweet, Roasted Barley, Sugarcane, Fruity, Grapes, Red Wine, Autumn Leaf Pile, Cocoa
Sold in
Loose Leaf
Caffeine
High
Certification
Not available
Edit tea info Last updated by Whispering Pines Tea Company
Average preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec 4 g 6 oz / 192 ml

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40 Tasting Notes View all

From Whispering Pines Tea Company

Brewed strong, this dark roasted o’olong has notes of oak, toasted seaweed, roasted coffee, and dark chocolate! Brewed light, you get notes of a smoky sweet caramel mocha! Dark Roast Anxi Tieguanyin is very bold and thick due to the multi-day slow-roast that gives it its caramelized flavor. Besides being incredibly smooth plain, adding a splash of coconut milk to this tea will transform it into a mouthwatering desert tea! There is no bitterness with even very long steeps, making this the perfect companion for the coffee lover or road-tripper!

Hint: Add vanilla ice cream to a strong cup of this tea instead of milk to make a fantastic treat!

*To intensify the notes, brew 1tsp of leaves in 8oz of boiling water for 10 minutes.

http://whisperingpinestea.com/dark-roast-tgy.html

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.

40 Tasting Notes

90
169 tasting notes

I got my Whispering Pines Tea order in the mail today.
I have been wanting to try this tea since Brenden first introduced it.
So badly have I been wanting to try this, that even though I live 40 minutes away from where my mail arrives, and even though I still had a day of running around and doing errands to do, I actually drove all the way back home to prepare this tea and put it in a go mug.
( I would not admit this to many people, but, I know you dear fellow Steepsters understand this tea-driven bit of craziness )
Now, if I had not been listening to Sense and Sensibility on audio book in the car and if I had turned on the tv or radio once I got home, instead of dancing impatiently ’round the kettle I would have heard the major storm warnings, and the telling people to stay off the roads.
Instead, I left the house, noticed that it was a rather black looking sky (where we live every couple of days it looks as if our world may end, we get storms blowing through from Nevada, Utah, Montana and Wyoming…when to be scared is when those storms collide with one another, such as today)
Just as I was getting to the bit in the book where Marianne insists on taking a walk even though its stormy, and as the audio book lady said “suddenly the clouds united over their heads and a driving rain set full in their faces”,blinding sheets of rain and hail hit my car fast!
I could barely see, but thought I saw a turn out or a dirt road or something other than the main highway I was on, so I pulled off as far as I could and waited out the storm, which lasted 20 minutes.
Lightening struck all around me.
It was frightening, BUT I had hot tea.
To distract myself from probable electrocution I concentrated on the tasting of the tea.
I am not one for chocolate flavored teas.
Then why on earth did you want to try this tea so badly, I am sure you are asking, because it is as I hoped, not really exactly like chocolate.
Its more roasty and toasty, more like toasted nuts.
Has notes of oak and seaweed.
Its rich and dark and unexpected.
And yet, still not losing one bit of its oolong-ness.
Although a Mr. Willoughby did not come to my rescue, I had something better accompanying me during the storm.
I very much look forward to drinking more of this tea…from the safety of my arm chair at home.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec
ashmanra

That actually sounds like an amazing day to me! Sigh. Tea, a good book, and a thunderstorm.

Hesper June

I really did not mind it at all and was actually enjoying myself, till lightening struck a tree a couple hundred yards from where I sat in my car.
Somehow that made me a smidgen nervous;)

Nxtdoor

@ashmanra I know!!! I thought the same thing. Awesome tea review, even though only 20% was about the tea :)

Hesper June

More tastings to come, Nxtdoor;) stay tuned…

ashmanra

Oh my! Well, I guess a nearby lightning strike would out a damper on things, or at least make things a little…tense. LOL! Glad you are okay, and now I really want to read Sense and Sensibility! Better charge my tablet…

Skulleigh

I am glad you remain un-electrocuted! I love that P&P synced up with real life for just a moment.

Tealizzy

That was an awesome tasting note! Love it!!

TheTeaFairy

I really enjoyed reading this, HesperJune! Is there anything a girl won’t do for good tea?
Must say I do appreciate a good thunderstorm, but not so much if my life is at risk! Glad you are ok :-)

JustJames

love this note…. tea is my sanity tonic/saving grace/deep breath. if the world is ending put me on a train (it’s very sheldon, but they make me happy) and give me tea. ;-)

Hesper June

I love trains too (and Sheldon;)

gmathis

(suddenly all I can hear is youforgotyourflashdrive… youforgotyourflashdrive… youforgotyourflashdrive…)

Hesper June

Bahahaha! Now I have this urge to seek out and watch that episode…

gmathis

Now I have this urge to try the tea and actually read Jane Austen. I’ve been intending to read her for 20 years :)

Hesper June

Oh! Well, my two favorite books are Sense and Sensibility and Northanger Abbey. But, they are all good:)

I ♥ NewYorkCiTEA

♥Persuasion♥

Hesper June

Oh, yes! I enjoyed that one a lot too! I repeat…they all are good:-)

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100
892 tasting notes

Having a pot of this for breakfast! I love the rich flavors of this tea. It’s deep and has lovely dark chocolate notes.

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86
206 tasting notes

Traveling Tea Box C #13
This is a very roasty oolong. I steeped it 4 times. The first steep smelled like burnt coffee but was definitely a creamy tea. Dark chocolate is not supposed to be creamy. It’s bitter. I took a whole class on chocolate and tasted what raw cacao tastes like and all types of high quality dark chocolate taste like. And this resembles that perfectly. And I love it. I will be keeping the last teaspoon of this :) thank you Shelley_Lorraine for adding this! I had this all day today!

Whispering Pines Tea Company

I had this all day today, too! :D

There’s a new harvest of this coming in the next week or so. If you’d like, I can let you know what it gets in. It’s tastier than the one you got! :)

BrewTEAlly Sweet

That would be amazing! Could you please?!

Shelley_Lorraine

This tea takes on so many different flavor attributes depending on how you steep it. You should try whispering pines super-long steep recommendation too (10 min). Some day, I’ll need to try their suggestion for adding ice cream…

BrewTEAlly Sweet

I did the 10 mom steep my first steep. It was very roasty!

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Sure could! I’ll also have the most amazing tieguanyin in at the same time!

Speaking of 10 minute steeps, you should try my top-secret rolled oolong steeping…

Okay, it’s not top secret, but it’s definitely awesome! :)

You can find the writeup in the articles section on my site at the bottom of the “Brewing Tips” section: http://whisperingpinestea.com/articles.html

Whispering Pines Tea Company

The new harvest of Dark Chocolate Oolong is in stock, as well as the new Traditional Tieguanyin! :) http://whisperingpinestea.com/pureoolongtea.html

We also just revamped all of our jasmine teas. I’d recommend The Sleeping Bear Blend and Whisper of the Woods. Annnnd we have just finished the first puerh blend, Autumn Foxtrot – http://whisperingpinestea.com/autumnfoxtrot.html

Let me know if you’ve got any questions!

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Ohhh! I just saw that you live in SLO! :) Whispering Pines actually started in Arroyo Grande two years ago. It’s beautiful over there!

BrewTEAlly Sweet

I’ve had this tea in my cart for the padt week ha ha along with another.
No way! Where at? Is there a storefront??

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Ohh, fun! :) The cart saves for 1,000 hours, so you’re good ;)

Whispering Pines has always been (and probably will always be) a home business. We lived right across from broadway bagel. :) I worked at splash cafe for a while while my company was starting up.

You may recognize some of the sights in these videos of me :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lSM4KyY1Us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi7rENrMKPM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1EcSDB-m9U

BrewTEAlly Sweet

I worked at splash café for a little when I first moved here! But now I’m a full time baker at slo baked bakery. Broadway bagel? I though there was only the house of bagel which I’m am not a fan of at allllllll! I love panera breads bagels and spreads, but nothing is as good as the bagels back home in salinas at the bagel corner.

BrewTEAlly Sweet

Just placed my order for dark chocolate oolong! Wanted to add the imperial gold bud but my funds are soooo low :( thank you for letting me know it was back!

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70
1040 tasting notes

This was another one in my Whispering Pines order.
Disappointed, if you are going to call a tea dark chocolate, there should be quite a bit of chocolate notes to it. Yes understand this is a straight oolong, but I also understand that most dark oolongs have a hint of chocolate notes to them. I don’t think this one is special, or has any more chocolate to it than any other oolong. It’s a decent dark oolong, but certainly not dark chocolate. (Or maybe I’m just fussy because I’ve been drinking so many straight blacks that have tons of chocolate notes to them that I was expecting that from this oolong). All in all just ok.

Sil

good to know…another one i can cross off my list of teas to try heh

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Sadly the newest harvest is lacking in dark chocolate notes :/ oh well, can’t win ’em all! :)

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2291 tasting notes

I’m, umm, not even going to put this one in my cupboard. The rest of the sample will go to my mom and brother. Thanks, Dexter3657, for sharing. :)

Interestingly, even with a 5 minute steep, the leaves are still fairly tightly curled. I wonder how long it would take for them to look like leaves..?

Smells like burnt chocolate dirt pie. It’s a flavour in tea that I just can’t wrap my head around, and I really can’t stand. I know other people like it, and more power to you if you do!

I’ve had two sips. I can’t drink this tea. If you like those dark roasty chocolatey earthy teas then you might like this one. I’m going to have to pass.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 5 min, 0 sec

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64
564 tasting notes

Cold-brewed this last night. I like it better this way but it’s nowhere close to a favorite. It’s just too roasty. This way the dark chocolate notes come out much more strongly, so it’s like drinking a dark chocolate bar mixed with a really dark oolong. Maybe my problem with this tea is that they don’t seem to blend together? I’m really not sure, but the remaining little bit is probably going to the swap pile.

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1271 tasting notes

Oooh yeah! TY to Brewteally sweet for a sample of this!

Today was another operation mega clean. I gotta say, having american thanksgiving so late in November (vs the Canadian Thanksgiving) means my house is still somewhat clean for Christmas cleaning from cleaning I did for Thanksgiving. A good roasty oolong or more often a pu’er is the tea I drink while cleaning. Must be that getting tea drunk makes for a more fun and productive cleaning.

This tea is tha bomb! I love a good dark toasty oolong and this is it! Tastes like a dark roast Big red robe oolong! Dark chocolate notes, roasty campfire, and creamyness. I might have to buy this tea for my collection in the new year.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec
BrewTEAlly Sweet

I love this one and looking at the teas you like I thought you would enjoy this! And I’m so happy you did!! Yay!

BrewTEAlly Sweet

They are having a 10% off sale for the next two days. Use PC10. They usually don’t have many sales either :) just thought I would let you know

Oolong Owl

wahhh tempting!

BrewTEAlly Sweet

Their Fujian black and gold bud look delicious as well! I’m ordering that after the holiday probably:)

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76
592 tasting notes

Thank you bluebelle for a sample of this oolong! This tea confuses me, but in an exciting kind of way. It’s definitely unlike other oolongs that I’ve had (& I’ve been drinking a lot of them lately). First off, it has that nice, roasted taste with a bit of nuttiness in there as well. What confuses me is the “dark chocolate” part. I’m not detecting any chocolate-y notes, but I’m rather getting a roasted seaweed taste from it. I actually quite enjoy it, but I do not think it is aptly named.

Courtney

Hmm roasted seaweed and chocolate don’t really say the same thing for me haha!

Jennkay

Right? I thought I was going crazy until I saw someone else mentioned seaweed in their tasting note, too. Very odd.

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Thanks to a bunch of customer comments, I’ve decided the change the name of this tea. The first harvest I had about a year and a half ago was pure dark chocolate, and I had hope for the future harvests being just as chocolatey, but not so much :/ Still love this one though, and thanks for the feedback! :)

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85
523 tasting notes

It’s already a given that I love dark roasted oolongs. The darker and roastier the better.

I was curious about this one, being labeled “dark chocolate” oolong. Obviously, it’s not chocolate flavored, but I wondered how it came upon the name. I did not detect any obvious chocolate notes, but the same hidden sweetness that I find in all dark roast oolongs. Who knows, maybe that is supposed to be ‘chocolate.’ There was however something slightly different in the aftertaste of this tea, but I thought maybe it was my imagination. Something vaguely coconut, possibly caramel (caramel teas tend to leave me with coconut-esque after tastes). I really do not like coconut in tea, at all, ever. I kept drinking my cup to cover the aftertaste and by mid-cup, I didn’t detect it anymore. Either I developed tolerance for it or there was just something funky going on with my senses at the time. Oh well!

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec
Whispering Pines Tea Company

You’re most likely getting the caramel notes since you brewed it on the lighter side of things. To intensify the dark chocolate notes, brew 1tsp of leaves in 8oz of boiling water for 10 minutes. A lot of my teas have special brewing parameters or stories that inspired the tea that you should read up on prior to drinking it. http://whisperingpinestea.com/darkchocolateoolong.html

Did you enjoy the cup?

Shelley_Lorraine

ah, yes I did re-read the 10 min recommendation (after I already brewed my cup). I always read tea descriptions (but don’t always remember special instructions!). I especially like the stories you include for yours (I even read the one for Manitou mist to my parents when I brought them a sample ;) ).

I’ve seen teas here and there with super long brewing times recommended, but I’ve always been too afraid to try it. I’ve never steeped a tea for 10min! Even my herbals I keep at 5-7min. But I promise I will try this next time (I have plenty to experiment with).

I left this tea unrated for now because I also wasn’t sure if maybe the two cookies I had eaten previously were messing with my tastes. Of course I enjoyed it as I like roasted oolongs in general, but because of this I have to be picky about deciding which ones will join my regular purchases :)

Whispering Pines Tea Company

:) Good to hear that you’ve been reading the descriptions! I feel like a lot of people miss out on the full experience because they don’t know what the tea was inspired by. Also, when you make The Sleeping Bear Blend, make sure to get a second infusion on it, and wait about 20 minutes between the first and second infusions. The pine flavor will really shine in that second infusion :)

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297 tasting notes

Alright so once this steeped up I was really worried about it because it smelt so much like coffee.

I dove in sitting at work, slacking. Errr my fear is realized it tastes so much like coffee. I’m sure there is some chocolate linering at the end of the sip, but I can’t get past the coffee taste.

I’m sure this is a great tea, if you like coffee. I just can’t get behind this one.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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