Hello everyone!
I've been looking into japanese teas for quite some time now and I've finally decided to give it a try. Obviously there are many online shops to buy from, but I've narrowed the selection down to two of them: o-cha and yuuki-cha (supposedly they're reputable sellers). Good quality Matcha and Sencha is what I'm looking for. Please recommend me one or two of each - not necessarily the best or most expensive ones, but good enough to make my first experience enjoyable.
Additionally, I've noticed that "organic" teas are less expensive - how come?
Also, would only one type of teapot suffice for brewing all the teas? (including gyokuro in the near future, after I get comfortable with brewing the easier ones)
Thanks:)
Re: Matcha/sencha recommendation (beginner)
Hi Rominchi,
can't say anything about Yuuki-Cha, but I recently ordered from O-Cha and was very happy with the teas I've got. If you're new to Japanese teas, I'd think it might be wiser not to start with the super-expensive teas, since many of them show their excellence in rather subtle areas which a beginner might not always appreciate yet, so I totally agree with you.
But I'd say that the more affordable teas from O-Cha are quite good already, no 'cheap' stuff there imho. Based on my order, you could try these:
Asanoka Sencha and Chiran Sencha. The first one is light-steamed, the second one deep-steamed. That has nothing to do with quality but is adifferent way of processing. I'd say that it can't be bad to have a comparison.
If you want to try the more expensive Senchas as well, this gift set is quite nice.
While I ordered some Matcha and liked them, I'm catious with recommendations because I'm quite new to powdered tea myself.
I'm curious what you'll choose and how you'll like it - would be happy to read about your experiences.. enjoy
can't say anything about Yuuki-Cha, but I recently ordered from O-Cha and was very happy with the teas I've got. If you're new to Japanese teas, I'd think it might be wiser not to start with the super-expensive teas, since many of them show their excellence in rather subtle areas which a beginner might not always appreciate yet, so I totally agree with you.
But I'd say that the more affordable teas from O-Cha are quite good already, no 'cheap' stuff there imho. Based on my order, you could try these:
Asanoka Sencha and Chiran Sencha. The first one is light-steamed, the second one deep-steamed. That has nothing to do with quality but is adifferent way of processing. I'd say that it can't be bad to have a comparison.
If you want to try the more expensive Senchas as well, this gift set is quite nice.
While I ordered some Matcha and liked them, I'm catious with recommendations because I'm quite new to powdered tea myself.
I'm curious what you'll choose and how you'll like it - would be happy to read about your experiences.. enjoy
Matcha/sencha recommendation (beginner)
+ 1 on the Chiran sencha! It's quite nicemiig wrote:Hi Rominchi,
can't say anything about Yuuki-Cha, but I recently ordered from O-Cha and was very happy with the teas I've got. If you're new to Japanese teas, I'd think it might be wiser not to start with the super-expensive teas, since many of them show their excellence in rather subtle areas which a beginner might not always appreciate yet, so I totally agree with you.
But I'd say that the more affordable teas from O-Cha are quite good already, no 'cheap' stuff there imho. Based on my order, you could try these:
Asanoka Sencha and Chiran Sencha. The first one is light-steamed, the second one deep-steamed. That has nothing to do with quality but is adifferent way of processing. I'd say that it can't be bad to have a comparison.
If you want to try the more expensive Senchas as well, this gift set is quite nice.
While I ordered some Matcha and liked them, I'm catious with recommendations because I'm quite new to powdered tea myself.
I'm curious what you'll choose and how you'll like it - would be happy to read about your experiences.. enjoy
I'll let someone with more matcha experience recommend that!Re: Matcha/sencha recommendation (beginner)
Appreciate your inputs. Yes, I'm aware of both Asamushi and Fukamushi ways of processing, though only on paper, of course. - Pretty eager to taste both senchas so I went ahead and ordered the two that you recommended, along with this teapot - https://www.o-cha.com/tokoname-teapot-16338.html
The gift set looks very tempting as well - with Xmas around the corner, I'll make sure to express my wishes very clearly, hehe.
As for matcha - going to wait for an opinion before placing the order. Pretty much all of them are rated very highly on the website so making a decision based purely on the reviews is virtually impossible :/
The gift set looks very tempting as well - with Xmas around the corner, I'll make sure to express my wishes very clearly, hehe.
As for matcha - going to wait for an opinion before placing the order. Pretty much all of them are rated very highly on the website so making a decision based purely on the reviews is virtually impossible :/
Re: Matcha/sencha recommendation (beginner)
Hi rominchi,
I really recommend you get a starter kit from O-cha to get started with matcha. You get a nice 10% discount on everything you need, and the specialized utensils especially the whisk are really important with matcha. This is the route I went with when I got started with matcha http://www.o-cha.com/Matcha-Starter-Kit.html
For the matcha itself (you get 10% off it with the starter kit!) I suggest either
http://www.o-cha.com/uji-matcha-kiri.html which is a nice strong flavoured matcha with a good price
or
http://www.o-cha.com/uji-matcha-kiku.html a little bit more expensive and with a sweeter more mild flavour than the kiri.
I really recommend you get a starter kit from O-cha to get started with matcha. You get a nice 10% discount on everything you need, and the specialized utensils especially the whisk are really important with matcha. This is the route I went with when I got started with matcha
http://www.o-cha.com/Matcha-Starter-Kit.htmlFor the matcha itself (you get 10% off it with the starter kit!) I suggest either
http://www.o-cha.com/uji-matcha-kiri.html which is a nice strong flavoured matcha with a good price
or
http://www.o-cha.com/uji-matcha-kiku.html a little bit more expensive and with a sweeter more mild flavour than the kiri.
Re: Matcha/sencha recommendation (beginner)
Thank you! It allowed me to buy two matchas at a discount price, which is nice.
In the meantime, a friend of mine provided me with a sample of tea that he bought from a local shop (to my knowledge, the only one in the country that holds matcha). I was extremely suspicious of it, since it was dubiously labeled as "matcha" without any futher info given.
With no exaggeration, it tasted horribly. Extremely bitter, even with added sugar it completely lacked a particular flavour. - Arguably the most disgusting drink I ever tasted. Judging by the looks of it, I'd say it is in fact, a powdered sencha or perhaps a culinary grade matcha at best. What do you guys think? It wasn't cheap either (~30$/50g, I think). Real shame how many people they're scamming here.
http://i.imgur.com/E6vc719.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/zC3MQaJ.jpg
In the meantime, a friend of mine provided me with a sample of tea that he bought from a local shop (to my knowledge, the only one in the country that holds matcha). I was extremely suspicious of it, since it was dubiously labeled as "matcha" without any futher info given.
With no exaggeration, it tasted horribly. Extremely bitter, even with added sugar it completely lacked a particular flavour. - Arguably the most disgusting drink I ever tasted. Judging by the looks of it, I'd say it is in fact, a powdered sencha or perhaps a culinary grade matcha at best. What do you guys think? It wasn't cheap either (~30$/50g, I think). Real shame how many people they're scamming here.
http://i.imgur.com/E6vc719.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/zC3MQaJ.jpg
Dec 2nd, '14, 14:35
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Re: Matcha/sencha recommendation (beginner)
That "stuff" looks horribly vile! Definitely not what even a poor grade matcha would look like. I suspect it is very old and/or oxidized.
Re: Matcha/sencha recommendation (beginner)
definitely expiredChip wrote:That "stuff" looks horribly vile! Definitely not what even a poor grade matcha would look like. I suspect it is very old and/or oxidized.
Dec 2nd, '14, 22:52
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Re: Matcha/sencha recommendation (beginner)
Looks rather old to me too - although it's hard to tell absolutely, with the flash. If it's not a fresh, verdant green, it should not be used for drinking.
At work recently we had a party for a colleague who was leaving to take up another job. He used to live in Japan, so we had a Japanese-themed tea break. I brought some matcha, as did another colleague who had previously lived in Japan. When I opened her container, the matcha was so stale and dull that it was almost grey. I wrestled with how to broach it tactfully (didn't want to embarrass her), but the truth was I didn't want anyone quaffing dead matcha and thinking that's what it normally tastes like... so I said "Let me treat you to a bowl of mine", and then just kept using the matcha I'd brought. Luckily she picked up on the difference between the two (and didn't seem offended), and we had a nice chat about how to keep tea fresh.
At work recently we had a party for a colleague who was leaving to take up another job. He used to live in Japan, so we had a Japanese-themed tea break. I brought some matcha, as did another colleague who had previously lived in Japan. When I opened her container, the matcha was so stale and dull that it was almost grey. I wrestled with how to broach it tactfully (didn't want to embarrass her), but the truth was I didn't want anyone quaffing dead matcha and thinking that's what it normally tastes like... so I said "Let me treat you to a bowl of mine", and then just kept using the matcha I'd brought. Luckily she picked up on the difference between the two (and didn't seem offended), and we had a nice chat about how to keep tea fresh.