Japanese Greens -- Grocery Store Recommendations?

[chicagopotter]

Hello there. I was wondering if anyone has had tried this brand of Japanese teas: http://shop.mitsuwa.com/eng/egoods/edetail.php?pid=1106 or could recommend any of these listed here: http://shop.mitsuwa.com/eng/egoods/eind ... 48&l=2&p=1

I've never tried a Japanese green, and have just ordered Den's sampler -- so will soon have my first introduction. Is it worth purchasing pre-packaged tea like this or will it be stale by the time it reaches the shelves?

[iannon]

not sure about those brands as i have never seen them before. i started out with some local store brands myself when I first got into sencha. A couple were okay. But after having some from Yuuki cha and Dens and Zencha etc I really got to see what good tea was.

hard to know how fresh they keep stuff or for how long its been around. I think thats why a lot of the crew here trust their vendors you've heard a lot about here

if i was looking at those at that shop and looking for not the top priced ones i may be tempted to experiment and try the one here http://shop.mitsuwa.com/eng/egoods/edetail.php?pid=1109

[puerhking]

Unless you can verify the freshness of the tea I wouldn't buy it. Den's and Zencha I can vouch for. I received my packages from Zencha in as little as three days to Missouri and at most seven days. Check the shincha link for others.

[Chip]

My recommendation is that you step away from the grocery aisle sencha, especially if it has a clear bag, not good.

[silverneedles]

the mitsuwa in LA had a separate ItoEn booth with loose tea, and i think a YMY one too(maybe not)
anyway, try ItoEn brand, or YamaMotoYama
Dont get discouraged away from senchas if the supermarket bags dont taste too good. Senchas should be grassy and "fresh". not bitter, liquor should be GREEN, not yellow or yellowish(overinfused). Dont use boiling water or more than 2 minutes steep

[Victoria]

Normally I would agree, but Mitsuwa is different. The tea is not on a shelf somewhere it is in the fresh food case, and to me, it looks very fresh. But not being a big green tea drinker, and at the prices they are charging, I've yet to try it. But that may change on my next trip. So in other words, I'm quite temped also.

[guitar9876]

wow... never seen any sencha like that in a grocery store.

[Chip]

Ummmm, crap!!! First link product.

This is likely 2nd flush at best, $9.99, and in a clear bag, the manufacturer either knows diddly about tea or just doesn't care, offering product view over product protection. Sencha should never be stored in see through bags.

Having said that, I never tried any of their product, but first impression is not positive. Looking at price points, their tea cannot be very good quality.

If you would like to taste what good fresh quality sencha should really taste like, please feel free to PM me, I will be happy to hook you up with a few samples.

[TEAcipes]

I just purchased this last month and had a couple cups.
It's a good bancha, and as expected from bancha, it is uninspiring. But good.

The package says Fukamushi 'style' which confuses me, is it Fukamushi or not? Or is it their way of saying, 'this tea won't be as aromatic as regular Sen-cha?'

[Chip]

I just purchased this last month and had a couple cups.
It's a good bancha, and as expected from bancha, it is uninspiring. But good.

The package says Fukamushi 'style' which confuses me, is it Fukamushi or not? Or is it their way of saying, 'this tea won't be as aromatic as regular Sen-cha?'

The leaf looks like green bancha, not fukamushi.

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