I didn't know which section to put this in, since I was kinda hoping to have a general discussion about organic teas. However, since I just ordered some organic shincha from O-Cha, and since that prompted my questions about organic tea, I decided on settling the topic here...
So, what opinions do you have about organic tea? How do they stack up with non-organic teas? Somehow I think non-organic teas might taste better because of all the fertilizers and pesticides that make the tea healthy and productive, but I also feel that organic teas which be more true to how tea was grown before the days of mass-cultivation. Of course, even organic farming practices aren't always as perfect as we think they are, so my other question is: why or why not buy organic tea?
Jul 12th, '09, 16:27
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Maitre_Tea
Jul 12th, '09, 16:36
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Fertilizer is what often helps leaves produce rich flavor. Thus remove the fertilizer, the taste is going to be different. Going in, you have to expect it to be different, adjust your expectations.
I believe organics from Japan are improving vastly. But it is not an automatic panacea. It is a work in progress. I am anxious to try the O-Cha offerings. I tried a few from Yuuki-Cha and was impressed.
In brewing, expect also to use a lot of leaf!
I have not had a good organic gyokuro yet.
Since this has a green tea spin, we can leave the topic here or move it to "Other Teas." Let me know what you think.
I believe organics from Japan are improving vastly. But it is not an automatic panacea. It is a work in progress. I am anxious to try the O-Cha offerings. I tried a few from Yuuki-Cha and was impressed.
In brewing, expect also to use a lot of leaf!
I have not had a good organic gyokuro yet.
Since this has a green tea spin, we can leave the topic here or move it to "Other Teas." Let me know what you think.
I am drinking an organic Ruby Black (Taiwanese black tea) these days and it is stunning, to me anyway. It is a cross between a native Taiwanese plant and an assam from India which was begun under Japanese occupation of Taiwan I think. (I hope I am not mixing up my facts here) It's known as #18... others here on TeaChat in other topics have discussed this widely
Anyway the one I am drinking is an organic from Tillerman Tea. They really sourced out meticulous small farmers for this tea and it's luscious. Good steeping quality... and does not oversteep. Strange characteristics I am having to learn more about as I learn and get used to this tea. A nice, mysterious surprise
Anyway the one I am drinking is an organic from Tillerman Tea. They really sourced out meticulous small farmers for this tea and it's luscious. Good steeping quality... and does not oversteep. Strange characteristics I am having to learn more about as I learn and get used to this tea. A nice, mysterious surprise
Jul 12th, '09, 16:48
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Jul 12th, '09, 16:51
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Maitre_Tea
Jul 12th, '09, 16:58
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Organic designations from China are a tricky thing. From China, I think a USDA cert is obtainable. But many things are exploited for profit coming from China, such as TPHK which I just mentioned in that topic.
TeaSpring sent a tea that I questioned a few years ago to the testing body. It was interesting watching the testing process etc. Still I am not 100% buying into Chinese organics unless the importing company is highly reputable.
Rishi is a company I tend to trust for organics, they seem to be integrally involved in the process and visit China frequently. They are also a direct buyer for many of their teas!!!
A chinese company or a vendor buying through brokers and middle men, I trust much less.
TeaSpring sent a tea that I questioned a few years ago to the testing body. It was interesting watching the testing process etc. Still I am not 100% buying into Chinese organics unless the importing company is highly reputable.
Rishi is a company I tend to trust for organics, they seem to be integrally involved in the process and visit China frequently. They are also a direct buyer for many of their teas!!!
A chinese company or a vendor buying through brokers and middle men, I trust much less.
blah blah blah SENCHA blah blah blah!!!
This is a great topic IMHO!
I recently had a gastroenterologist tell me to only put organic
products into the body as much as possible.
More and more connections are being made between disease (specifically cancer)
and chemical substances such as pesticides etc.
Sadly, I've noticed that organic teas don't always taste nearly as good as those sold as non-organic.
But I have also tasted very good organic teas.
I would be very interested to hear about and know about good organic teas.
Cheers!
I recently had a gastroenterologist tell me to only put organic
products into the body as much as possible.
More and more connections are being made between disease (specifically cancer)
and chemical substances such as pesticides etc.
Sadly, I've noticed that organic teas don't always taste nearly as good as those sold as non-organic.
But I have also tasted very good organic teas.
I would be very interested to hear about and know about good organic teas.
Cheers!
Janine,Janine wrote:I am drinking an organic Ruby Black (Taiwanese black tea) these days and it is stunning, to me anyway. It is a cross between a native Taiwanese plant and an assam from India which was begun under Japanese occupation of Taiwan I think. (I hope I am not mixing up my facts here) It's known as #18... others here on TeaChat in other topics have discussed this widely
Anyway the one I am drinking is an organic from Tillerman Tea. They really sourced out meticulous small farmers for this tea and it's luscious. Good steeping quality... and does not oversteep. Strange characteristics I am having to learn more about as I learn and get used to this tea. A nice, mysterious surprise
I looked on the Tillerman site and while I could find some organic teas from Taiwan, this one isn't listed as organic. It would be nice to find one that is though. Here's the link:
http://www.tillermantea.com/ruby_black.html
Jul 12th, '09, 21:14
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I had the Yabe shincha - it was great (and organic!).iannon wrote:I have found Yuuki-cha's organics to be quite "favorful" as well as an organic I got from a small farmer..lots of umami in that Asa Shincha!
anyway I just ordered some Organic Kumamoto Sencha Yabe Supreme from Yuuki so I hope to have my first taste of that one soon.
TokyoB
Jul 12th, '09, 22:37
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great! since yuuki has their 10% off for this month I figured I would give it a go..that one seemingly their top-o-the-line anyway. its on its way!TokyoB wrote:I had the Yabe shincha - it was great (and organic!).iannon wrote:I have found Yuuki-cha's organics to be quite "favorful" as well as an organic I got from a small farmer..lots of umami in that Asa Shincha!
anyway I just ordered some Organic Kumamoto Sencha Yabe Supreme from Yuuki so I hope to have my first taste of that one soon.
I just tried the Yuuki-Yutaka from Yuuki-cha today. I was surprised by how it good it was. Though it is mild and subtle, there is still quite a lot of flavor to it. I did a review of it in the 2009 Shincha Review Topic. I tried their Organic gyokuro once before and was also impressed by it, but I haven't had any other gyokuros yet so there is not much for me to compare it to. I have a bag of that and two other of the organic senchas from Yuuki-cha waiting to be opened.
On a side note, I absolutely adore the Organic Monk's Blend from the New Mexico Tea Co. It is my favorite black tea, hands down. It is incredibly flavorful, strong tasting with hints of brown sugar. I also like their Organic High Mountain Green, which works well as a simple, everyday green tea with a vegetal, nutty flavor.
On a side note, I absolutely adore the Organic Monk's Blend from the New Mexico Tea Co. It is my favorite black tea, hands down. It is incredibly flavorful, strong tasting with hints of brown sugar. I also like their Organic High Mountain Green, which works well as a simple, everyday green tea with a vegetal, nutty flavor.
Hi TokyoB - I bought the tea at the store, and not from the website. It's entirely possible that I got my wires crossed (for example, if they told me the same source in Taiwan supplies them with organic teas or something) or else it's just not on the website or something. I am going to contact them and ask about it... thanks for checking it outTokyoB wrote:
Janine,
I looked on the Tillerman site and while I could find some organic teas from Taiwan, this one isn't listed as organic. It would be nice to find one that is though. Here's the link:
http://www.tillermantea.com/ruby_black.html
Best from Janine
For me, buying organic teas will always have priority. It doesn't guarantee that the tea will actually taste better, or, even fruit and vegetables for that matter. It is a matter of what I put into my body as well as the intention of the tea maker. Most farmers that choose organic farming care about what they are producing. They are usually smaller growers. Many of the best teas produced by small farms are not exported but are snapped up by savvy local merchants. It is the purity in the tea combined with the purity of the clays that I personally want to have.
In Taiwan and China, and, I imagine Japan, organic certification is an expensive process that many small farmers don't want to go through. They don't have to because their product is already spoken for by demanding tea vendors. Many Taiwanese farmers are growing organic teas but cannot be listed as organic by vendors because there is no certification. So, you must enquire of the vendors as to which teas they have that are organic.
High mountain Taiwan oolongs are often grown without pesticides because of the altitude and lack of bugs bothering the plants. These are some of the best teas in the world.
In Taiwan and China, and, I imagine Japan, organic certification is an expensive process that many small farmers don't want to go through. They don't have to because their product is already spoken for by demanding tea vendors. Many Taiwanese farmers are growing organic teas but cannot be listed as organic by vendors because there is no certification. So, you must enquire of the vendors as to which teas they have that are organic.
High mountain Taiwan oolongs are often grown without pesticides because of the altitude and lack of bugs bothering the plants. These are some of the best teas in the world.
IMO Certification
In China, there are many types of certifications. One of them that is internationally recognised is the IMO Certificate. This certification is made by the Institute for Marketecology based in Switzerland and provides a one-stop Fair Trade and Organic Certification. It put up the necessary criteria to ensure the poorest small-scale farmers are protected from the whims of the market and that the products do not contain any pesticides or heavy metal. As a result, it can garantee that human rights are respected at any stage of the production, that workers enjoy good and fair working conditions and that smallholder farmers receive a fair share. It also garantees its product source and organic quality.