TeaChat

New tea on Den's, Kuradashi Sencha, seems interesting...

Oh, and autumn teaware.

Chip wrote:I have not tried the Organic Sencha ... but I had their Sakura in 2008, I really liked it and I am not one to like flavored teas.

Their Organic Sencha is excellent. It isn't as good as their Honyama top-tier (Sencha Zuiko), but I personally was very impressed by the Organic Sencha. It was surprisingly fruity, well balanced, some depth. I had the impression that organics were not as good as non, and even though my experience is very limited, this has changed that impression. I recommend trying it at least once.

I've also had their Organic Houjicha and Genmaicha with Matcha. The Genmaicha with Matcha has a very good sencha base (it might be the same Organic Sencha, actually), and was one of the best Genmaichas that I've had. The Houjicha tasted standard, but was also somewhat creamy; at least in my one-time experience.

Chubseus wrote:New tea on Den's, Kuradashi Sencha, seems interesting...

Oh, and autumn teaware.

The Kuradashi sencha is my favorite non-shincha over the last year. The flavor is well balanced, sweet and fresh bitterness, long flavorful aftertaste, and even strong citrus notes.
It is also a very good deal; 80g for $16 (it is the same tea as Sencha Zuiko, but aged for 6 months in the high elevation kura, as you probably know). I hope they carry it again next year.

Has anyone tried this tea from Den's?
They didn't offer it last year (for the 2010 shincha harvest), but only for the 2009 harvest.

It was called "108th nights shincha umegashima"
Here's a link to more info. on it from Den's website:
http://www.denstea.com/index.php?main_p ... cha_report
(Scroll down to "Sugiyama Tea farm in Umegashima)

This is an interesting shincha report in and of itself, even if it is 2 years old. But this shincha really caught my eye, not only because of the locale and way it is grown (with grass covering the ground around the tea plants), but because it is made with the Zairai cultivar.

Cliff - do you remember reading anyone posting about it on the forums for the 2009 harvest?

shinobicha wrote: Their Organic Sencha is excellent. It isn't as good as their Honyama top-tier (Sencha Zuiko), but I personally was very impressed by the Organic Sencha. It was surprisingly fruity, well balanced, some depth.

Really? I did try this one too, and was not nearly as impressed...
It was good don't get me wrong, but I feel you could get better organic sencha elsewhere

Lets see.....mine was bought late 2009, so maybe they sourced a different one for 2010, but the description on site still pretty much matches what I tasted


Oh yeah...free kyusu with 60+ order. Not a bad deal I must say...free shipping and free teapot exp feb 13

churng wrote:

shinobicha wrote: Their Organic Sencha is excellent. It isn't as good as their Honyama top-tier (Sencha Zuiko), but I personally was very impressed by the Organic Sencha. It was surprisingly fruity, well balanced, some depth.

Really? I did try this one too, and was not nearly as impressed...
It was good don't get me wrong, but I feel you could get better organic sencha elsewhere

Lets see.....mine was bought late 2009, so maybe they sourced a different one for 2010, but the description on site still pretty much matches what I tasted


Oh yeah...free kyusu with 60+ order. Not a bad deal I must say...free shipping and free teapot exp feb 13

I haven't bought any directly. There is a cafe near me that sells a few of Den's Teas (loose leaf, but also drinks). I have tried all of Den's organics that way. So the version I had was a 12oz sencha in one of those to-go paper cups (like a coffee cup from Starbucks or something).
Anyway, I don't know why that would be different than what you had, but I was impressed because I thought it was very tasty. I'm not saying it's the best sencha I've had, but more like, if you wanted an everyday inexpensive option, I would definitely choose something like this because it is good.
I use the word impressed because my based on what I had read, my understanding previously was that organic Japanese greens are not as good as the standard farming method. However, this sencha changed my opinion, so thus I was impressed.

But I agree with you, I am sure there are better senchas (organic) out there. My experience with organic is limited to just that and a fukamushi kukicha from Rishi, so I don't have much to compare it against.

YES!

PayPal is now officially accepted!

New 2oz glazed bright lime green kyusu $16
http://www.denstea.com/teapots-cups-min ... 5_544.html
If it was plain black or red I would buy it this instant

churng wrote:YES!

PayPal is now officially accepted!

New 2oz glazed bright lime green kyusu $16
http://www.denstea.com/teapots-cups-min ... 5_544.html
If it was plain black or red I would buy it this instant

Yeah, I saw this 2 ounce kyusu and have thought about it more than once. Heck, maybe get a fleet of the suckahs! Seriously ... kinda. These would make an interesting alternative for tastings of several/numerous teas.

Super cute mini kyusu!

(must not give in to the mini cuteness)

Could be practical!

(how often would I really use it?)

Shincha OTTI coming up!

(....)

debunix wrote:Super cute mini kyusu!

(must not give in to the mini cuteness)

Could be practical!

(how often would I really use it?)

Shincha OTTI coming up!
(....)

BRILLIANT RATIONALE! I wonder how many he has?

Chip wrote:

debunix wrote:Super cute mini kyusu!

(must not give in to the mini cuteness)

Could be practical!

(how often would I really use it?)

Shincha OTTI coming up!
(....)

BRILLIANT RATIONALE! I wonder how many he has?

+1! Do they ship internationally? From the website it looks a bit like it is USA and Canada only?

I got one, just one, with my shincha order from them, arrived today. It's precious(and green is my favorite color)!

Nenugal wrote:

Chip wrote:

debunix wrote:Super cute mini kyusu!

(must not give in to the mini cuteness)

Could be practical!

(how often would I really use it?)

Shincha OTTI coming up!
(....)

BRILLIANT RATIONALE! I wonder how many he has?

+1! Do they ship internationally? From the website it looks a bit like it is USA and Canada only?

I ordered to Austria. Just write an email first, because normal checkout is not working for Europe. Have been very pleased - and don't forget to add the sampler.

Marco wrote:

Nenugal wrote:

Chip wrote:

debunix wrote:Super cute mini kyusu!

(must not give in to the mini cuteness)

Could be practical!

(how often would I really use it?)

Shincha OTTI coming up!
(....)

BRILLIANT RATIONALE! I wonder how many he has?

+1! Do they ship internationally? From the website it looks a bit like it is USA and Canada only?

I ordered to Austria. Just write an email first, because normal checkout is not working for Europe. Have been very pleased - and don't forget to add the sampler.

Thanks, that is good to know!

Here is a short video of tea-making at an organic facility in Shizuoka from which Den's obtains their new organic fuka:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6itG1vi3Zc&feature=plcp

Best wishes,
sherubtse