SimpliciTEA

SimpliciTEA drank Rooibos (Organic) by Sanctuary T

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Experience buying from Sanctuary T http://steepster.com/places/2940-sanctuary-t-online-new-york-new-york?visit=1642

I got some of this at the end of 2011. I don’t like it as much as Village Tea Co.’s Sweet Grace Vanilla Rooibos (I love the vanilla in that one), but as I like red rooibos, I like this tea: the rich aroma, the deep red color, the tobacco-y taste.

I find the pricing structure of this tea at SanctuaryT to be interesting. It’s $10 / 2 OZ, and $24 / 8 OZ. So it drops from being $5 / OZ when you buy 2 OZ, to $3 / OZ when you buy 8 OZ? I haven’t seen that big a spread on the price for buying only six ounces more anywhere that I can remember (SpecialTeas had a reasonable discount for buying two pounds over buying four ounces—I think it was 25%, but that makes more sense to me, because I’m buying a lot more). Don’t get me wrong, I like that we get a discount for buying more, something just doesn’t smell right to me about that pricing structure. And the prices on all of herbal teas I checked (at least seven across different herbal types) are all exactly the same price; that seems odd to me, too.

Even at $3 / OZ it’s not a very good price for an straight herbal rooibos tea (I think you can get it for about $2 / OZ elsewhere: I just checked and Culinary’s is $5 / 4 OZ). I don’t get it; unless we are being charged a premium because they are based in NYC. … When I went to post this I realized it’s organic (It’s not a part of it’s name on their website, but now I see the Organic trademark at the bottom of the description). Can it being organic make THAT big a difference in the price? I just checked again, and it looks like most of their herbal tea are organic, but not all. The Chocolate Honeybush is not organic (at least its not labeled as so), and it has the same price structure as the rest. What’s up with that!?

Pricing aside, I have determined that I like red rooibos; so the question now is, will I like green rooibos?

2012-06-20 00:15:14 -0400

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Azzrian 2012-06-20 01:21:25 -0400

I like red rooibos – I think I may like green more though.

Missy 2012-06-20 02:08:42 -0400

I think green rooibos is more mellow and mannerly. Upton has a nice flavored green. If you like pear and cream, this may be a nice introduction to green rooibos. I have very little left so I can’t share at present. When we get some more, I’ll be happy to share.

http://www.uptontea.com/shopcart/item.asp?itemID=BA04&from=search.asp

SimpliciTEA 2012-06-20 13:37:57 -0400

Thanks for the comments.

Missy: Thank you for your kind offer to share your stash with me (when you get more), and for the link. $6.80 for 125 grams does sound like a good price on that BA04: Green Rooibos Poire Creme you provided a link to. That pear and cream green rooibos looks and sounds good, and yet I actually prefer to start with the ‘pure’ version of a tea the first time I try it. Still, that one is on my radar, now, and later I plan to see what their price for the pure stuff is (assuming they have some). I do appreciate hearing all of these good things about green rooibos, as I tend to like things that are green anyway!

Missy 2012-06-20 22:21:08 -0400

Heh I’d send the last of it to you, but I know you brew in a large pot and like to share with your wife. There just isn’t enough for that. :(

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Bio

(Updated 4-21-2012)

I’ve been thinking about this for some time now. You can call me, Joe.

What, How and Why I steep:

I expect, and shoot for, at least three flavorful steepings out of any tea I brew up.

I typically start at the times and temps below ( ’ = minute(s), " = second(s) ), then add 5F and 30" for each successive steeping:
Chinese Green - 170F, 1’ ;
Japanese Green - 160F, 1’
add 15F, then decrease by 15";
White - 160F, 2’;
Oolong - I don’t brew these up often, and so I don’t have a set method for brewing them yet, but think I prefer gongfu style.
Indian Black/Chinese Red and Herbals - a little off the boil, 2’; why do I start with such low temps & short steep times? So as to ‘spread out’ the flavor over multiple steepings. I have found this to work with every tea I have tried so far. Also, I am not looking for intense flavor in that first cup (which brewing an herbal or black/red tea at 3 – 5 minutes at boiling usually does), I just want to be able to taste it—and savor—it over many steepings.
Pu-erh - Are you kidding me? Thank you, but I’ve already got plenty enough teas to challenge the ‘tea enthusiast’ within me. Some day, though, some day …

Tea Rating scale:

1 – 29: There is no reason to even think about drinking this stuff again.
30-49: I may drink it if someone else brewed it up, but I would not bother brewing it up myself let alone bother buying any.
50 – 59: I like something about it, and I may brew it up if I already have some, but I would not buy any more of it.
60 – 69: I like a few things about it, and I may buy it if the price is right.
70 – 79: This is a tea I enjoy and would drink fairly regularly as long as it is reasonably priced.
80 – 89: A tea I will drink as often as I can, and will likely try to buy some when I run out (as long as it’s affordable).
90 – 99: This has everything I look for in the best of teas: beauty in appearance, a delightful aroma, and most importantly, depth and yummy-ness in its flavor.
100: Perfect.

My primary interest is in artisan loose-leaf green tea, although I enjoy Chinese red (or Indian black) and white tea somewhat regularly (during the summer, iced ). Here and there I brew a few of the other true teas and an occasional herbal.

Since I choose to live on a very limited income (‘Voluntary Simplicity’), I have to be very conscience about how much I pay for tea. In reading their Tea Enthusiast’s books, Mary Lou and Robert J. Heiss sold me on the wonders of artisan teas. Thankfully I have found that there is affordable, artisan tea out there; it’s just like anything else that has true value: it takes hard work, dedication and at least a little persistence to find it.

I came to tea out of a desire to find something to help calm and focus my mind as naturally as possible. My mind is very active, so to speak, and at times I find it very difficult to focus and keep myself centered. For years now I have been practicing Yoga daily along with others things to help me to stay relaxed and present, but I found I wanted a little something extra to help me start the day; the theanine in green tea seems to help me in this.

I have been enjoying loose-leaf tea since November of 2010.

I compost my tealeaves.

I love to connect with others about tea.

I drink Stevia with just about all of my tea (no sugar or artificial sweeteners).

I drink a pot of green tea every day in the AM (usually steeped three times over the course of the day), sharing it with my wife.

Each tea in my cupboard is carefully and colorfully labeled in a tin or in a jar that used to hold something else (I love to reuse things!) .

I have three teapots: two simple ceramic (mostly for white and red/black teas) and one glass Bodum with a metal infuser/press (which I use regularly to steep my greens or yellows).

I tend to be direct, straightforward and honest when I post anything to the discussion boards. I take the approach that everything I say is stated with the implied disclaimer: In My Humble Opinion (i.e. IMHO). I may occasionally emphasize this point, where appropriate. I view your comments in the same way. You are in no way obligated to read what I have posted. And I am in no way similarly obligated to you.

Sitting with my cup of tea I greet the day in anticipation of new discoveries along the way.