good tie guan yin vendors online?

[Zanaspus]

Sorry CK, are you asking me? If so, yes, I ordered that sample. I ordered all the 2009 samples. Yikes. But the set from last year that was so amazing is still for sale:
http://www.jingteashop.com/pd-oolong-tea-set.cfm

Yes, I was asking you. Sorry about the confusion, as the one that I linked was the only other TQY beyond the sample set that you linked that I could find on their website. I was having too much fun looking around the Jing site and ended up having to close out of it before I made a purchase after all of them sounded so good.

Go for it. I've never gotten a bad tea from them. Heck, their "everyday" Shui Xian at 4.99 for 100 grams is better than some I've had costing 4 or 5 times that.

[Victoria]

Sorry CK, are you asking me? If so, yes, I ordered that sample. I ordered all the 2009 samples. Yikes. But the set from last year that was so amazing is still for sale:
http://www.jingteashop.com/pd-oolong-tea-set.cfm

Yes, I was asking you. Sorry about the confusion, as the one that I linked was the only other TQY beyond the sample set that you linked that I could find on their website. I was having too much fun looking around the Jing site and ended up having to close out of it before I made a purchase after all of them sounded so good.

The one the "blew me away" was from last year's tasting set, which is still available. I did order the 2009 sample, so I'll report back! As Zanapus says, I've never gotten a bad tea from them.

[tealeaf]

I've been meaning to experiment with some oolongs for a while. Suddenly finding myself with a positive income I splashed out on some 九 九九 (999) Tie Guan Yin from Wan Ling Tea. It arrived this morning and I've just had my first two brewings.

I had a quick look around for how to brew, and went with about four grams of tea in about 150ml water, at a little below boiling. (I generally prefer to be quite "natural" about brewing, but measured out this time in order to get a good starting point before I experiment a bit more.)

Absolutely gorgeous, and certainly nothing like any tea that I've ever tasted. I won't try and actually describe it, but I think that this could be the start of a new era for me.

[Herb_Master]

Absolutely gorgeous, and certainly nothing like any tea that I've ever tasted. I won't try and actually describe it, but I think that this could be the start of a new era for me.

I am glad you enjoyed it, Wan Ling has become my new favourite for Anxi Tie Guan Yin. The Jiu Jiu Jiu is certainly more affordable than the 'Can Sai Jin Pin Wang' and not much between them in the cup.

James who runs the UK end for Wan Ling says that in his opinion the Jiu Jiu Jiu Spring 09 is better than recent harvests and shows that tea at it's best.

[Salsero]

the competition grade Mao Xie sounds good value

I have some of this and I am not very enthusiastic. I find it inoffensive, but not delicious.

Absolutely gorgeous, and certainly nothing like any tea that I've ever tasted.

Well, TeaLeaf, between your experience and Herb_Master's, I ordered their Standard TGY Sampler and their Indian Tea Sampler. It's always exciting to try someplace new.

I was impressed that Wan Ling's initial internet presence of the Shanghai store is devoted exclusively to information and images and that they waited for their UK ops to actually open a site to sell tea.

[Herb_Master]

Sal, James is only running the UK end as a part time business, hoping it will grow into full time. Perhaps if you rate the teas in the sampler you should contemplate opening the American Branch of Wan Ling

But that might mean Wan Ling visiting you to give Tea Classes and the like to your clients.

A shame that the Jing Tea Shop Mao Xie was lacklustre, but at that price it did not seem like it was going to be a competition winner.
Also a shame in that I have high expectations from Jing Tea Shop and have them near the top of my list of "Must buy from these vendors soon".

Maybe when the time comes I will request TeaChatters recommendations.

[TIM]

the competition grade Mao Xie sounds good value

I have some of this and I am not very enthusiastic. I find it inoffensive, but not delicious.

Absolutely gorgeous, and certainly nothing like any tea that I've ever tasted.

Well, TeaLeaf, between your experience and Herb_Master's, I ordered their Standard TGY Sampler and their Indian Tea Sampler. It's always exciting to try someplace new.

I was impressed that Wan Ling's initial internet presence of the Shanghai store is devoted exclusively to information and images and that they waited for their UK ops to actually open a site to sell tea.

Interesting Sal. I did not know you enjoy TGY that much

[wyardley]

I was impressed that Wan Ling's initial internet presence of the Shanghai store is devoted exclusively to information and images and that they waited for their UK ops to actually open a site to sell tea.

They had an online presence when they just had the Shanghai store. I ordered from them back in '07. The stuff was mostly not my style.

The old location of the Shanghai store was REALLY small, and in an antique mall -- most of the other shops sell stuff other than tea. I'm guessing mainly catering to foreigners, but not sure... they weren't in the shop when we stopped by.

[Salsero]

Interesting Sal. I did not know you enjoy TGY that much

Most TGY is a little hard to like. The Fujian production is just so enormous. I am still waiting for the right moment to taste the two interesting vacuum packed bags you sent me, BTW.

I ordered from them back in '07. The stuff was mostly not my style.

Well, it sounds like I will either be opening the US branch of Wan Ling or scratching them off my list!

Will, I would guess you lean more toward roasted tea than I do, so I am still holding out hope.

[Tead Off]

the competition grade Mao Xie sounds good value

I have some of this and I am not very enthusiastic. I find it inoffensive, but not delicious.

I certainly thought Jing's Mao Xie was more than inoffensive. I thought it was a nice departure from TGY but still in the same vein, so to speak. Nothing wrong with that tea. I took it with me on a trip to Java in the Spring and drank it every day.

[tenuki]

+1 on anything anxi from jing tea shop, great source for that style.

My own tastes in TKY have been running in roasted and/or aged lately, the green stuff mostly annoys me.

[mr. Less]

thanxs for all the replies guys, it really helped me alot
i already ordered from jing tea and wan ling, and i really like their tky
but now i also would like to try some roasted ones
any good vendors for the roasted ones?