Maiko "Official" Japanese tea topic

[Chip]

NEW! Official Japanese Green Tea Vendor Guide: Maiko Consider this a perennial topic for Japanese teas from Maiko.

http://www.maiko.ne.jp/english/
http://stores.ebay.com/The-JAPAN-STORE_ ... Z1QQ_sopZ2

Official Japanese Green Tea Vendor Guide. Let's see what happens with this wild and crazy idea. You can view the main Japanese TeaVendor Guide here: http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11556 and the main TeaVendor Guide here: http://www.teachat.com/viewforum.php?f=60

[Oni]

Maiko`s gyokuro Fugenji Midori, was unique, nothing I could compare it too, and when I had it for 2000 Y, only 20 $, it was the best price vs quality gyokuro I had, it has a strong aftertaste, and a pine aroma, and the color is dark green, still after their price raise, that is a bit high for my taste, and totaly uncalled for, at least they should have made a progressive and lower rate price increase, but I still would pay for their fugenji 27 $ it is still worth it.

[Chip]

... still after their price raise, that is a bit high for my taste, and totaly uncalled for, at least they should have made a progressive and lower rate price increase, but I still would pay for their fugenji 27 $ it is still worth it.

I suspect Maiko's margins were too small and could not absorb the rise of the Yen to the Dollar.

I have enjoyed several of the traditional (asamushi) Uji sencha although not as much of the 2009 harvest as harvests past ... I will have to correct this.

[iannon]

I just ordered some of their Gyokuro Yamashita-Jirushi along with a shincha.. I havent had any decent Gyo in a while and thought i'd try some of this..anyone had?

[tmorten]

I have also been curious about trying Maiko's Yamashita gyokuros. He is an expert in gyokuro production and has won various awards. Also, his gyokuros are all hand picked and processed by hand. Some of his gyos are extremely expensive though

I have been looking at trying either the Jirushi or the Shuppin Yamashita gyokuro. These two are on the lower end of his gyo selection, but they are also moderately priced and within my budget.

Has anyone ever tried any of the Yamashita gyokuros from Maiko? Iannon, you'll have to let us know what you think of the gyo when you get it.

[iannon]

Got it!
Yamashita Gyokuro Jirushi arrived today along with some Shincha Kinari. I had to bust open the Gyo first since I have 2 shinchas open already.


very nice looking needles of leafy Gyo goodness


Clear yellowish infusion. sweet mild flavor. I taste macadamia nuts? am I crazy? second infusion was a deeper yellow.
I have gone thru 4 infusions now. Started at 3oz at 145F for 2 minutes and went bit hotter and shorter from there. slight astringency and more umami on steeps 3 and up. sweet and nutty the first couple.

[tmorten]

Thanks for the review Iannon! I will have to add this to my list of gyos to try. I gotta drink up all my shincha first though!

[iannon]

curious..anyone tried any of the Maiko Matcha's? I have enjoyed the shincha and Gyo that i got from them at least

[Chip]

From the 2010 Shincha season I tried Kinari and Shincha Sencha. Kinari was as usual very exceptional asamushi for the price. Very nicely balanced veggie, umami, sweet, bitter and astringent working together harmoniously.

The Shincha Sencha was better than any asamushi at this very low price point.

I rate them on a scale of 15 with 5 being the highest:

Kinari 5
Shincha Sencha 4 ... value adjusted 4.5

I also tried the curious Shiawase, "Happy Tea," which is a blend of kelp, kukicha, genmai and matcha. Quite different, tasty and variable from steep to steep.

Shiawase 4.75

[iannon]

ok..well..I was about to run out of my stock of Shincha and it was time to order some sencha! I sat on the fence between Maiko and Ippodo for the longest time before going ahead with some more from Maiko.
so coming to me soon:
100g Green Tea - Sencha Maruyama 1 2,025 yen
100g Green Tea - Sencha Kyo no tsuyu 1 1,350 yen
100g Green Tea - Sencha Kamo 1 1,080 yen

i've not tried any of these so I will post my thoughts when they arrive and I get to try some!

[qaymar23]

I have also been curious about trying Maiko's Yamashita gyokuros. He is an expert in gyokuro production and has won various awards. Also, his gyokuros are all hand picked and processed by hand. Some of his gyos are extremely expensive though

I have been looking at trying either the Jirushi or the Shuppin Yamashita gyokuro. These two are on the lower end of his gyo selection, but they are also moderately priced and within my budget.

Has anyone ever tried any of the Yamashita gyokuros from Maiko? Iannon, you'll have to let us know what you think of the gyo when you get it.

Maiko's has a sample pack of all of Yamashitas gyokuros, it is called 5 High quality gyokuro set, item #190:
Each sample is 8 grams
Yashiki no Cha
Takumi
Nomigoro
Shuppin-Gyokuro
Yamashita-Jirushi
for about $50 plus shipping.

Jing tea has Yamashitas gyokuros 25 grams for about $40 which is wonderful, full of Umami and accorording to Jing & Maiko per their response to my emails to them that the tea Jing's Yamashita gyokuro is very close to the Yashiki no Cha and having tasted both I agree it is very similiar.

[entropyembrace]

What are Maiko´s senchas like? I´m wanting to order some sencha and matcha and I´m really curious of Maiko´s matchas but the sencha I´m not so sure about...I don´t see pictures of the leaves or a lot of information in the descriptions...

I´m kind of pitting O-Cha, Zencha and Maiko against each other to decide which to order from this time...but I have a pretty good idea what to expect from the other two...Maiko is more of an unknown. I´ve only had their sincha sencha from the OTTI, I liked it but I thought it was a bit simple compared to the other OTTI sinchas...but it was also the least expensive.

[Chip]

The Maiko sencha are all asamushi from Uji/Kyoto. I have not had the 3 lower ones, but the 3 top levels are quite good.

[entropyembrace]

The Maiko sencha are all asamushi from Uji/Kyoto. I have not had the 3 lower ones, but the 3 top levels are quite good.

ty Chip, I think I´ll go with O-cha this time...I still have a fair bit of matcha and I think I would only order one of the higher end senchas from Maiko considering all are Uji asamushi...when I really want this order to be primarily sencha.

Will save Maiko for when I run really low on matcha or if I decide to go for gyokuro.

[bryan293]

I just got some yamashita jirushi gyokuro today. Iannon, what leaf to water ratio did you use to brew it? I'm wondering if 1g:1oz is enough for this gyo.