Carnival

Sadly, the keyboard on my laptop is not working. Having to type up my note on my iPhone isn’t all that grand, though it’s nice to have as a backup option.

I really like this blend!! It’s creamy and smooth, with hints of vanilla and caramel. The spices hint that it could have been a chai, but preferred to be more laid-back and mellow. The almonds and pistachios lend it a subtle sweetness, and the black tea base is delish. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone making a Sanctuary T order, and to anyone who finds most chais too spicy.

Smells very spicy (that would be the peppercorn, cumin, and coriander) and a little nutty/sweet. The taste oddly both watery and full. I can identify black tea on the front, kind of bitter really, but then the aftertaste is sweet and spicy and lovely. I prefer my tea unsweetened, but this could do with a bit of sugar or honey.

A dash of milk improves it enormously: fuller body, less harshness, more caramel flavors.
I steeped 1tsp in 8oz boiling water for 2:15 (recommendation is 2-3 minutes); a longer steep or more leaf would be better. A second steep at 4 minutes was about as good as the first. And, impressively, two subsequent steeps (6 and 8 minutes) were also good.

Points for uniqueness and resteepability.

This was probably the most surprising tea I tried in 2011. Totally crave-worthy. But I only have a 1oz sample, so I’ve been drinking it sparingly. I’m going to have to break down and buy more eventually. Today, with GF gingersnaps, it’s the perfect way to get through the afternoon slump on the first workday of the year, and coldest day of winter so far.

Warm, sweet, buttery, cozy, slightly spicy, rich,creamy, and nutty. Yum!

When Sanctuary T offered their White Tea Brownies as a steepster select, I couldn’t pass it up. But… I couldn’t just buy the brownies. NO! Of course not. I also ordered the Sanctuary Sampler Kit, which is pretty cool. It’s this neat chipboard portfolio, with the five teas taped to the inside, and index cards that offer information about the teas, brewing, etc. It also includes a small package of T-Sacs and bamboo skewers.

I don’t really use T-Sacs, I have an abundant supply of them, since I bought them bulk to package samples of my own teas in, but, I don’t use them for my own tea brewing very often unless I am doing a side-by-side type of comparison or something. I just prefer my smart brewing device. But… I must say that the adding of the T-Sacs and bamboo skewers is a clever idea especially for those who are new to tea, which is who this sampler kit is obviously created for.

Anyways… The brownies were absolutely to die for, and now they are gone… but I do have more on the way, because Sanctuary T did a very evil thing and offered the discount through this past Saturday. Of course, I’m going to order MORE if you do that!

Back to the tea. This is the first tea that I’m trying from the sampler kit. It smells so nice. Nutty and spicy. I love the smell of cumin and I’m thrilled that someone (besides me) puts cumin in their blends!

This has a very nice balance of sweet and spicy. There is an underlying smoothness to the taste too. Very nice. I like this one a lot!

Hello Steepsterites.

Look at your tea, now back to mine, now back at your tea, now back to mine. Sadly, it isn’t mine, but if you stopped purchasing tea bags and switched to Sanctuary T’s Carnival blend, it could smell and taste like mine.

Sorry for that. I HAD to do it. I recently purchased a discounted sampler tea set from Sanctuary T via their July quizzes, and this was the first tea that I decided to brew. Now, let me tell you: The aroma is to DIE for. It’s buttery, caramel, and smooth with a hint of pepper. It’s a medium body black tea that is so perfectly blended, I completely forgot I was drinking anything since it goes down divinely smooth.

Imagine eating the most wonderful slightly salted popcorn without your fingers getting all greasy. Now imagine you can drink that happiness. That is this tea.

My only gripe is that the tea doesn’t do too well on consecutive brews. It smells and tastes great but it’s moderately weaker. Sadies. Wonderful tea nonetheless.

I absolutely love this tea. Sanctuary’s a European-style tea cafe/restaurant in Soho, and the owner and tea sommelier have impeccable taste for both food and tea.

Sipdown no. 213. The third sample in the Sanctuary Sampler.

One thing I will say about Sanctuary T’s teas: they’re visually interesting. This one had what looked like red peppercorns in it. It smelled a little nutty, a little cocoa-y in the packet. After steeping it’s a light orange brown color and I can smell the almonds.

I love pistachios, and I’m not sure I’ve ever had them in tea. I’m also not sure I can taste them distinctly in this tea, but the overall effect is delicious. It’s a spice tea, but it isn’t too spicy and there’s no single spice that is yelling at the top of its lungs, probably because it doesn’t contain cinnamon, clove, or anise, all of which have a tendency to do that. As the tea cools, I can smell and taste the cumin and the coriander, which is pretty interesting. Cumin could have the yelling at the top of its lungs tendency but it’s quiet and enjoyable here.

There’s a softness to the mouthfeel, and a pleasant nutty-sweet aftertaste.

Because I love chai tea, this tea seemed perfect, as it is the right amount of spice.

The flavor is quite smooth with a creamy & buttery finish, and everyone kept noting that it smells like coffee.

I add an equal amount of rock sugar to one teaspoon in 16oz of boiling water to compliment the buttery taste.

For chai lovers, or coffee drinkers that want to wane themselves, this tea is perfect.