Budget sencha

[Pentox]

I've actually found some decent "budget" senchas at one of my whopping 3 local asian (japanese not chinese) markets. Im not even sure of the brand as most of it was in japanese but the only english labelling said "Sencha Gold" it was about 10 bucks for 100 grams. I actually liked it better then the Den's fuka-midori sample i got.

Partly clear plastic bag, green coloring to it?

no.. gold foil, greenish and white bag with flowery-ish designs on it. not bad..like i said I actually liked the flavor of it better then the fukamidori

Hm doesn't sound familiar. I was guessing maeda-en like Rodger although 10/100 is well over list for them.

[Chip]

I got tired of the often mediocre offerings in this price range, often wasting money in an effort to save money ... just didn't make cents, or, sense.

Bingo! If you want to save any money you would have to drink that mediocre tea for the whole year. Even then you are not saving much. Spend the extra $4/100grams and get something way better, cause in the long run it doesn't actually cost much more.

I was thinking about trying Hibiki-an's Sencha Superior as an everyday, but opted out for O-Cha's Chiran.

The best way to get the most out of your money is to brew in smaller amounts. A while ago I dropped down to 6oz from 8oz, and am going to drop down to 5oz soon. The difference between 6 and 5 is not very much , but it gives me 6 or 7 extra sessions! Besides, I'm pretty full after 3 6oz infusions, and I take it to 4 or 5, so I won't miss that 1oz much.

He's tried some den's and ocha's at my place and enjoyed it. He wants to try out some of the other brands but I haven't tried those yet. Any comments on how good those are? Any other sencha you'd add to the list?

If he has had Den's and O-Cha's Daily, then I would try O-Cha's Chiran.

I agree, it makes more sense and cents to go a little higher and get a tea that will open his eyes. Also, a better tea will offer more infusions per seesion and could be a better value, and maybe even cheaper as a result. I can get 5 steeps out of any good sencha in the $18 and up price range. Cheaper sencha often quits after a couple steeps.

Also the smaller steeps makes a lot of sense and cents!!! Many of us do this routinely with gyokuro, it is also done with matcha so to speak. Why not sencha as well, less in this case can equal more as in more sessions per bag.

I have yet to take this path with sencha but consider it quite frequently.

[olivierco]

With a 100g bag you should be able to get 25 sessions, perhaps more, enough for a whole month. As you can get very good sencha for 20-25$ per 100gr, I don't see the point to spend 10-15$ for a just decent sencha.

[iannon]

I've actually found some decent "budget" senchas at one of my whopping 3 local asian (japanese not chinese) markets. Im not even sure of the brand as most of it was in japanese but the only english labelling said "Sencha Gold" it was about 10 bucks for 100 grams. I actually liked it better then the Den's fuka-midori sample i got.

That sounds like Maeda-en, which doesn't get much play in this discussion group yet in the budget category I have found it unfinicky and reliable, even if it fails to excite.

just saw in the benhihana post that maeda-en is what they use..interesting

[Chip]

Looking over the site, a lot of their teas are sold in 2 and 3 ounce bags, so the price may not be as "budget" as it seems.

[kikkuman]

Tried Zencha's moe this morning, its fantastic. I put it on par if not better than den's fukamidori. I wasn't expecting much when I ordered it, but the moment I opened the package, I was greeted with an invitingly sweet fresh aroma. I just knew I was in for a treat.

Also had some lupicia's budget offerings (~$6) last week, they were very disappointing, including the nara and ariake. I suspect they sent year old tea. My friend was very unhappy with his order. He almost gave up on green tea altogether until I treated him to some of ocha's midori

[iannon]

thats good news on the Zencha Moe since i took the chance and just recently ordered some when i was ordering some of their new yame Matcha offerings! now I am glad i took that chance!

[tsusentei]

It is mine, so I guess that taints the review a bit, but it is great and available on ebay. I helped pick all of my stock at the farm and it is some of the best available in the US and I have tried so many. Den is trying hard and gets a good batch occasionally, but he deals with big farms and everyone is a wholesaler. Anyhow, my 2 cents.

[iannon]

It is mine, so I guess that taints the review a bit, but it is great and available on ebay. I helped pick all of my stock at the farm and it is some of the best available in the US and I have tried so many. Den is trying hard and gets a good batch occasionally, but he deals with big farms and everyone is a wholesaler. Anyhow, my 2 cents.

well..I am sure its good.. Ive actually looked at your stuff before but i'm not sure id classify it as "budget"??

[Chip]

... not to mention a little self promotion going on there ...

[iannon]

... not to mention a little self promotion going on there ...

welll.....I kinda glossed over that but at oh..30 bucks per 100g on the least costly version its as much as my much loved Takumi

[Chip]

YOWZA, NO, that is not budget sencha.

[iannon]

Tried Zencha's moe this morning, its fantastic. I put it on par if not better than den's fukamidori. I wasn't expecting much when I ordered it, but the moment I opened the package, I was greeted with an invitingly sweet fresh aroma. I just knew I was in for a treat.

got my Zencha Moe today and had to bust it open this evening for a try. I must say for the price including shipping I was pleasantly surprised as well. to me it was almost like a milder, not quite so kick-in-the-face version of the takumi I had. nice & buttery, more on the sweet vs astringent side. quite nice.

[woozl]

Zencha...mmmmm...buutterr... Yame....