Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

[sherubtse]

Re: Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

by sherubtse » Aug 22nd, '11, 08:29

You need to try some better (or at least more specialized) asamushi vendors. For someone who doesn't like too much Umami flavor, I would suggest Ippodo's Hosen.

I plan to get an asa with my next order.

So who would you suggest as good asa vendors, other than Ippodo?

Thanks.

Best wishes,
sherubtse

[strickmr]

Re: Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

by strickmr » Aug 22nd, '11, 08:51

My favorite asa is O-cha's sencha Aoi. It's really the best asa I've ever had hands down in my opinion.

[Nathaniel87]

Re: Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

by Nathaniel87 » Aug 22nd, '11, 09:23

In no particular order I would say that any list of my favorite teas would need to include Horaido's Shuppincha HG as well as their Tokiwagi (tried both in around Nov or Dec of last year). The Shuppincha HG had by far the most beautiful and uniform leaves of any (edit: machine rolled) Sencha I have ever seen and both of them had an amazing deep and rich flavor.

My other favorites are all of the top 3 grades of Sencha from Ippodo. These are teas that definitely shine in my opinion when brewed strong, but I have a feeling that it would be too much for someone just beginning to explore Japanese greens.

[debunix]

Re: Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

by debunix » Aug 22nd, '11, 12:43

For those of you giving very specific recommendations for senchas, could you indicate whether these should be considered Asamushi/light steam, fukamushi/deep steam, or something else? That would be very helpful for some of us with both strong preferences and great ignorance on these matters.

[NOESIS]

Re: Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

by NOESIS » Aug 22nd, '11, 13:15

I plan to get an asa with my next order.

So who would you suggest as good asa vendors, other than Ippodo?

Thanks.

Best wishes,
sherubtse

Hibiki-an: Premium, Super Premium or Pinnacle.
Maiko: Maruyama, Hachiju-hachiya or Shuppin.
Tsuen (O-Cha): Ujibashi San no Ma or Aoi.

Although my fave vendor for Japanese tea is Ippodo, all of the above teas are very good to exceptional.

[sherubtse]

Re: Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

by sherubtse » Aug 22nd, '11, 14:20

For those of you giving very specific recommendations for senchas, could you indicate whether these should be considered Asamushi/light steam, fukamushi/deep steam, or something else? That would be very helpful for some of us with both strong preferences and great ignorance on these matters.

+1

I have just glanced at the Horaido site, for example. The price list for their senchas provides info that is so general as to be of little use to me.

Other sites have similar lack of precision, which I find amazing.

Best wishes,
sherubtse

[Chip]

Re: Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

by Chip » Aug 22nd, '11, 15:17

For those of you giving very specific recommendations for senchas, could you indicate whether these should be considered Asamushi/light steam, fukamushi/deep steam, or something else? That would be very helpful for some of us with both strong preferences and great ignorance on these matters.

+1

I have just glanced at the Horaido site, for example. The price list for their senchas provides info that is so general as to be of little use to me.

Other sites have similar lack of precision, which I find amazing.

Yeah, I know what you mean, makes shopping (and learning about vendor's teas) a chore or worse. O-Cha does provide a lot of info. But I would like to see more info (and a photo would be nice) from my other fave 5 sites, Zencha, Ippodo, Maiko. Den's is getting much better, but alas most of their sencha, etc. are Shizuoka. I have to move someone into the 5 spot.

[Chip]

Re: Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

by Chip » Aug 22nd, '11, 15:28

Well, this was easier, unfortunately due to the troubles in Japan and no Shizuoka tea.

1. Yutaka Midori, O-Cha
2. Tsuru Jirushi Gyokuro, O-Cha
3. Kinari Shincha, Maiko
4. Sencha the Ultimate, Zencha
5. Aoi, O-Cha

6. Kaboku, Ippodo
7. Maruyama, Maiko
8. Kame Gyokuro, O-Cha
9. Kumpu, Ippodo
10. Takumi, Zencha

This list is pretty indicative of my fave five vendors as well.

I forgot about a tea that has to fit into my personal top 10! Ureshino Tamaryokucha (Guricha) Tokujo from JapanTea.org aka Hakinowado aka Xell.

This is the best and cheapest guricha that I have had for a while, nice veggie qualities and priced for everyday. I will be trying the next level up, Gokujo which I hope will have a better overall leaf appearance as well ... and hold up a better in the later steeps. But at this price, I am very pleased.

Also want to try the Gokujo version of the Yame Fuka from the same vendor.

Looking for an asa? Maybe try this as well.

[debunix]

Re: Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

by debunix » Aug 22nd, '11, 19:56

What makes a tea 'gokujo'? I don't remember seeing this term before, and googling is not a lot of help.

[Chip]

Re: Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

by Chip » Aug 22nd, '11, 20:45

What makes a tea 'gokujo'? I don't remember seeing this term before, and googling is not a lot of help.

Good querstion, his grades go ...

jo - lowest grade
tokujo - mid grade
gokujo - highest grade

Good thing we have easy access to the source ... what say you Xell?

[Xell]

Re: Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

by Xell » Aug 23rd, '11, 00:35

What makes a tea 'gokujo'? I don't remember seeing this term before, and googling is not a lot of help.

Good querstion, his grades go ...

jo - lowest grade
tokujo - mid grade
gokujo - highest grade

Good thing we have easy access to the source ... what say you Xell?

This sometimes used for grades. 'Gokujo' used for top offering and can be translated as "finest quality". I.e. it's about same as using first grade, second grade etc.

It's difficult to tell if the higher grade is worth it, that really depends on budget and taste preference. People who like tea more thick (1g and higher per 30ml) might benefit from higher grade more than those who prefer light.

[sebpassion]

Re: Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

by sebpassion » Aug 23rd, '11, 06:07

xell, can you tell me from what varietal the yame fukamushis are made?

i'm very interested in the tokujo, because i tried a tea with this description and it was wonderful. really green and both vegetal and sweet.
i wonder if it could be the same tea or a similar one..

[Xell]

Re: Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

by Xell » Aug 23rd, '11, 06:23

xell, can you tell me from what varietal the yame fukamushis are made?

i'm very interested in the tokujo, because i tried a tea with this description and it was wonderful. really green and both vegetal and sweet.
i wonder if it could be the same tea or a similar one..

Both Yame and Ureshino are made from Yabukita. This is most widely spread tree kind in Japan. But it will have different flavor depends on where and how it was grown, how it was processed is also important.

Recently i've tried tamaryokucha that was made near Nagasaki, also Yabukita and it had really different taste from Ureshino.

[strickmr]

Re: Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

by strickmr » Sep 4th, '11, 14:06

This list is pretty indicative of my fave five vendors as well.

That's only 4, Chip.

[Chip]

Re: Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

by Chip » Sep 4th, '11, 22:59

This list is pretty indicative of my fave five vendors as well.

That's only 4, Chip.

The 5th spot is up for grabs perhaps. I can never seem to come up with #5 on the fave vendor list and end up placing several in a tied position.