I thought I would ask the community for some recommendations on where to place my next order.
What I'm looking to buy:
- about 500g-700g of Sencha, for everyday morning tea both at home and work (this will last me a while)
- 100-200g of Gyokuro (for weekends, when I'm feeling like a treat)
- 200g of Houjicha (for dinner/evenings, as I stop consuming caffeine after 3pm or so)
- Some Karigane (never tried it...not sure offhand if it's lower in caffeine than Sencha, if it is, may be a good option for later in the day)
Where I've bought before (order of recent $ spent):
- Maiko (my everyday sencha from there is about Cdn$15)
- Den's (when our Cdn$ was stronger, now it's a big premium to order in US)
- O-Cha (started there...still go back every few orders)
- Thes Du Japon (ordered there once, excellent tea, but a bit expensive...I'm actually leaning to them for my next order)
I'm hoping to keep the "everyday sencha" to Cdn$20/100g or less (what's the best sencha in this price range?). I would like to pay "fair" shipping prices (to Canada). And I would like to avoid places that price in USD, because this means paying 30% more than I did a year ago for the same tea. While the C$ has went down a bit against the Yen, it's not the same as against US$.
Thanks!
Nov 1st, '15, 14:10
Posts: 1144
Joined: Jul 10th, '13, 01:38
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Location: Japan.
Re: Recommendation
Regarding sencha, which flavours are you looking for? (e.g. light umami and strong flowery or nutty flavours, strong umami, smooth and lightly sweet, with/without astringency ..).
Re: Recommendation
Mainly light steamed, smooth, not too much astringency. But I'm up for trying new sencha. I'm looking for a recommendation more from a vendor perspective, one that sells all of the tea I'm looking for, at a decent price and with decent cost of shipping (in Cdn$). Assuming they're known for decent green tea, I'm less concerned with the particular type of sencha (I can figure that out).William wrote:Regarding sencha, which flavours are you looking for? (e.g. light umami and strong flowery or nutty flavours, strong umami, smooth and lightly sweet, with/without astringency ..).
Thanks, William!
Re: Recommendation
How about Camellia-Sinensis?
Sure, their teas are a bit pricer than some, but as you are in Canada you will pay no exchange costs, and no shipping costs if your order is $50 Can. or more:
http://camellia-sinensis.com/en/tea?country=JP
Everyday Sencha:
http://camellia-sinensis.com/en/tea/sencha-nagashima
Gyo:
http://camellia-sinensis.com/en/tea/gyokuro-okabe
Hojicha:
http://camellia-sinensis.com/en/tea/hojicha-isagawa
Karigane:
http://camellia-sinensis.com/en/tea/bocha
Best wishes,
sherubtse
Sure, their teas are a bit pricer than some, but as you are in Canada you will pay no exchange costs, and no shipping costs if your order is $50 Can. or more:
http://camellia-sinensis.com/en/tea?country=JP
Everyday Sencha:
http://camellia-sinensis.com/en/tea/sencha-nagashima
Gyo:
http://camellia-sinensis.com/en/tea/gyokuro-okabe
Hojicha:
http://camellia-sinensis.com/en/tea/hojicha-isagawa
Karigane:
http://camellia-sinensis.com/en/tea/bocha
Best wishes,
sherubtse
Re: Recommendation
sherubtse - thanks for the recommendation.
I've purchased tea ware from Camellia-Sinensis, but not tea. Have you tried them yourself? How do they compare to direct from Japan?
I've purchased tea ware from Camellia-Sinensis, but not tea. Have you tried them yourself? How do they compare to direct from Japan?
Re: Recommendation
Yes, I have bought tea from CS before, and never had one that I did not like. I am currently working through the Nagashima sencha listed above. (I have not tried the others I cited.)Noonie wrote:sherubtse - thanks for the recommendation.
I've purchased tea ware from Camellia-Sinensis, but not tea. Have you tried them yourself? How do they compare to direct from Japan?
How they compare to those directly from Japan is a matter of opinion & individual taste, of course. But if you are looking to get value for your de-valued canuck buck, then I think CS is a good way to go.
Best wishes,
sherubtse