Last week after going through all the (decent) tea in the house I decided to give some support to a local tea shop. I rode my bike to the shop and found they had a good selection of green teas (and even more if you consider flavored green). All the tea was stored in large tin cans with a seal at the top.
They had a 1st flush kabuse for $15 an oz! Wonder how long that had been on the shelf?
Anyhow I left wish an oz of their 2nd flush kabuse. Needless to say its not the best quality.
Does anyone know of a local tea shop in the US that has good quality japanese tea besides Ito En or places on the west coast?
Mar 26th, '10, 16:18
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silverneedles
Re: Local Tea Vendors
check your local china/japan-town markets, tho most wont have great stuff, just regular, cheap.
Re: Local Tea Vendors
A Whole Foods store near you might stock Rishi sencha, which is not bad if it's fresh.
Mar 26th, '10, 21:26
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Re: Local Tea Vendors
Wegman's too. Just don't buy Wegman's brand when I tasted I thought it could be 3rd flush, really bad.Ed wrote:A Whole Foods store near you might stock Rishi sencha, which is not bad if it's fresh.
Re: Local Tea Vendors
I needed some tea to tide me over until my shincha arrives and took up Ed on his suggestion to check out Whole Foods. I bought some Rishi Sencha Supreme for $3 an oz and it is actually pretty decent. On pair with the daily sencha from o-cha that has been in my cabinet for 6 months (about the same price too lol).
That certainly beats some $8 an oz 2nd flush kabuse from the local tea shop that is so bad I don't want to drink it...
That certainly beats some $8 an oz 2nd flush kabuse from the local tea shop that is so bad I don't want to drink it...
Apr 20th, '10, 16:59
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Re: Local Tea Vendors
Hmmmm... I never thought about checking out Whole Foods...
And to think, I thought the only local vendor was TV
And to think, I thought the only local vendor was TV
Apr 20th, '10, 21:20
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Re: Local Tea Vendors
I miss Wegman so much! I didn't buy tea there but I miss their vegetables and other stuff. Now I live in a Wegman-less area, and suddenly realize how small the vegetable section my local grocery has!Chip wrote:Wegman's too. Just don't buy Wegman's brand when I tasted I thought it could be 3rd flush, really bad.Ed wrote:A Whole Foods store near you might stock Rishi sencha, which is not bad if it's fresh.
Re: Local Tea Vendors
Wegmans is planning to build a store in Westwood. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/639049gingko wrote:I miss Wegman so much! I didn't buy tea there but I miss their vegetables and other stuff. Now I live in a Wegman-less area, and suddenly realize how small the vegetable section my local grocery has!
After shopping at several Wegmans around Rochester I am fan too.
My first experience with matcha was at the Wegmans Tea Bar in Pittsford. It smelled like dead fish and tasted like chalk. Oh well, I like everything else at Wegmans.
Apr 21st, '10, 13:51
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Re: Local Tea Vendors
Is there anyplace in Los Angeles that can be recommended as a place to go for matcha (as in, the tea prepared fresh at the table) ? I am not so interested in the entire tea ceremony, but have not been thrilled with the matchas I have tried at home, and while I suspect it's mostly that I like infusion better than ground leaf, I would be game to try it again if someone else makes a matcha with a good reputation.
Re: Local Tea Vendors
REALLY? I've tried rishi from Wholefoods before, and that was terrible. And, Wegmans is selling the same kinds of rishi teas, but I don't think these are better than the one in Wholefoods. Rishi might changes their teas, so probably I should try again.Chip wrote:Wegman's too. Just don't buy Wegman's brand when I tasted I thought it could be 3rd flush, really bad.Ed wrote:A Whole Foods store near you might stock Rishi sencha, which is not bad if it's fresh.
Aug 5th, '10, 22:07
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Re: Local Tea Vendors
Rishi Sencha is more than likely going to be fresher and better if purchased online!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Teacup1980 wrote:REALLY? I've tried rishi from Wholefoods before, and that was terrible. And, Wegmans is selling the same kinds of rishi teas, but I don't think these are better than the one in Wholefoods. Rishi might changes their teas, so probably I should try again.Chip wrote:Wegman's too. Just don't buy Wegman's brand when I tasted I thought it could be 3rd flush, really bad.Ed wrote:A Whole Foods store near you might stock Rishi sencha, which is not bad if it's fresh.
Sad but true ...
Re: Local Tea Vendors
I´m thinking if sencha doesn´t come in a nitrogen flushed bag with a date on it it´s not worth buying local...I bought some expensive sencha at a local shop which generally has good tea...they kept it in a big metal canister...it tastes stale. 
Glad I only bought a sample size.
I´ll stick to ordering from Japan for sencha.
The big metal can method works fine to store most teas but sencha just seems to go stale too easily.
Glad I only bought a sample size.
I´ll stick to ordering from Japan for sencha.
The big metal can method works fine to store most teas but sencha just seems to go stale too easily.