Sencha high grade or gyokuro standard?

[Fireflower]

i am new on japanese teas and at the moment only tried standars sencha, genmaicha and houjicha uji.
i just have a questions
usually it will be better to spend 25-30 usd for an high grade sencha or for a standard gyokuro?
i knoq that it depend person by person but just to have an idea.

[entropyembrace]

Gyokuro´s quite different...and it´s trickier to brew, it also does much better in a small brewing vessel with a high leaf to water ratio.

Anyway...I think it´s worth trying both. Gyokuro isn´t just a high grade sencha, it´s another type of tea.

But since you´re starting out...if you have to choose between one or the other due to budget concerns I´d say go for the sencha, it´ll be easier to brew

[exquisite]

I believe one needs a long practice in brewing sencha to be able to properly brew and appreciate gyokuro. You could end up disappointed and frustrated in trying to get the most of such an enigmatic tea. Other than that, I agree with Entropy, they are quite different teas..

PS: How´s your Hokujo, have you received it yet?

Cheers!

[Ambrose]

I enjoy standard and high grade senchas, but for me I like a good grade of gyokuro. If you have not yet tried gyokuro I say give it a try. I like to brew mine traditional style. It might take several tries to get it right but when you do !!! oh so rewarding

[olivierco]

With 20$-30$ (for 100g) , you won't get any real gyokuro.

Gyokuro is easy to brew as long as you don't use too hot water.

[Fireflower]

PS: How´s your Hokujo, have you received it yet?

Cheers!

is it arrived today! i am at work and i cannot see it too much but is wonderful! much uch better than in the picture! when i have time i will post some images but i ame really satisfied of my purchase

[tortoise]

Beautiful hokujo there. congratulations. At 20-30 dollars, I would throw my hat in the ring for sencha. You can get great sencha in that price range and IMHO that is better than gyo in that range. Someone else with a lot more experience with gyokuro may be able to help you find a good one at that price, I don't know.

But you just got that lovely hokujo, why not spend at least a few months getting to know sencha?
"Getting to know brew, getting to know all about brew."

[Tead Off]

I believe one needs a long practice in brewing sencha to be able to properly brew and appreciate gyokuro. You could end up disappointed and frustrated in trying to get the most of such an enigmatic tea. Other than that, I agree with Entropy, they are quite different teas..

PS: How´s your Hokujo, have you received it yet?

Cheers!

Gyokuro was the 1st good quality Japanese tea I drank given to me as a gift. I had no experience at all and it was immediately accessible to me. I don't find any particular difficulties with brewing it. I think it is more difficult to find a good sencha than a good Gyokuro. But, that just may be my personal taste. Ippodo is a good place to start.

[gargoylekitty]

I think it is more difficult to find a good sencha than a good Gyokuro.

Same, in my experience. I've yet to find a gyokuro that left me overly disappointed, but there has definitely been a sencha like that every now and then. Yet, at the same time, I could drink sencha everyday but gyokuro feels a little more special and is more of a once and in awhile thing.

That said, I vote for finding a good sencha. If not for my feelings on which is more 'comfortable'? to drink more often, then because you'd be more likely find a better quality sencha for that price than gyokuro.

[bryan293]

Personally, for an everyday tea in that price range I would go with a sencha. That being said, you can probably get a decent "introductory level" gyokuro for around that as well. It really depends on whether you want a superb tea you can savor and enjoy sparingly (gyo) or a great tea that you can drink and enjoy everyday (sencha). my recommendation for a nice sencha in that price range is the yutaka midori karou supreme LE from o-cha. For gyo (this is one of the few I have tried but I really love it) I would recommend the Yame from o-cha; If you are experienced with tea brewing you should have no trouble with this one. there are many other companies that offer great teas at good prices too, but o-cha is a personal fave. Good luck with whatever you choose. With high quality japanese tea it's hard to go wrong!

[tortoise]

I think Koaru Supreme YM sencha is awesome and second bryan293's recommendation. There is a ton of great sencha in that price range!

[Chip]

I think Koaru Supreme YM sencha is awesome and second bryan293's recommendation. There is a ton of great sencha in that price range!

+ 1 ... this makes so much sense and echo my thoughts. Now if you are well stocked in sencha ... gyokuro beckons.