I've tried one from Teaspring which was nice and light. I've also had one from TenRen which was...kinda too nutty (and $ as always) for me.
I personally prefer strong flavor (not floral or vegital..but rather smooth maybe a little bitter) of sencha, or matcha though.
Mar 6th, '09, 14:04
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I am not overly anxious to try anything from teacuppa based on recent posts about the poor shipping and customer service practices.iannon wrote:So it appears that teaspring is a perennial favorite!? I havent ordered from them yet but it seems i may have to!
how about teacuppa? anyone bought from them?
Agreed. I have had Emperor several times before, but it is not a priority for me at this point.brad4419 wrote:Update for you dragonwell lovers
Teasprings has new 2009 Emperor long jing.
Too pricey for me but hopefully the regular long jing will come out soon
Mar 6th, '09, 14:24
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Ok..so no teacuppa..But i have now promised myself i *will* splurge on at least one high end dragonwell!Chip wrote:I am not overly anxious to try anything from teacuppa based on recent posts about the poor shipping and customer service practices.iannon wrote:So it appears that teaspring is a perennial favorite!? I havent ordered from them yet but it seems i may have to!
how about teacuppa? anyone bought from them?
Agreed. I have had Emperor several times before, but it is not a priority for me at this point.brad4419 wrote:Update for you dragonwell lovers
Teasprings has new 2009 Emperor long jing.
Too pricey for me but hopefully the regular long jing will come out soon
How does the emporer stack up with their tribute grades? ( they seem to be even higher priced)
or..if you did pick out a higher grade long jing from where..or which one..would you get? One of these teasprings or dragon houses nonpariel or elsewhere? I WAS going to go for their (teasprings) Lion but i see its gone...
Mar 6th, '09, 15:38
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Keep in mind, I have never ordered from Teacuppa.
I felt the Emperor was lighter or even lightest of the premium LJ offerings from Teaspring.
Interestingly (well to me anyway), they often also have Bai LJ which comes from a special breed that looks whitish as the leaves are opening. The lower grade of a few years back was more enjoyable to me than the higher grade (and much more costly) more recent offering. I really enjoyed the lower grade one.
I felt the Emperor was lighter or even lightest of the premium LJ offerings from Teaspring.
Interestingly (well to me anyway), they often also have Bai LJ which comes from a special breed that looks whitish as the leaves are opening. The lower grade of a few years back was more enjoyable to me than the higher grade (and much more costly) more recent offering. I really enjoyed the lower grade one.
Mar 6th, '09, 21:30
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xuancheng
This may not be actual tea from hangzhou. As far as I know, Longjing is never ready to be harvested this early in the year. In the area where I live the green tea (one of the earliest Chinese greens) has already been out for 3 weeks. It is processed in the same way as longjing, and looks similar, but the buds aren't as long as Longjing varietals.brad4419 wrote:Update for you dragonwell lovers
Teasprings has new 2009 Emperor long jing.
Too pricey for me but hopefully the regular long jing will come out soon
Often teas from other areas are passed off as Longjing, this may be one example. I could be wrong of course
茶也醉人何必酒？
Mar 6th, '09, 23:27
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I believe this is true. Long Jing from Hang Zhou (or the "real" long jing) is harvested typically between vernal equinox and start of April. Even if it goes earlier, it won't be this early. Da Fo Long Jing is harvested in late Feb. The teaspring one, based on the website description, it's production location is Xin Chang, so it's actually Da Fo Long Jing. Da Fo Long Jing is also very good, and its quality is relatively close to the "real" long jing (compared with so called "long jing" produced out of Zhe Jiang province).xuancheng wrote:This may not be actual tea from hangzhou. As far as I know, Longjing is never ready to be harvested this early in the year. In the area where I live the green tea (one of the earliest Chinese greens) has already been out for 3 weeks. It is processed in the same way as longjing, and looks similar, but the buds aren't as long as Longjing varietals.brad4419 wrote:Update for you dragonwell lovers
Teasprings has new 2009 Emperor long jing.
Too pricey for me but hopefully the regular long jing will come out soon
Normally the price of Da Fo Long Jing is almost 10 times lower than that of the "real" long jing. Traditionally March is when the market of Da Fo long jing is the best, because the "real" long jing is not out yet. After April, you won't have to pay that much to get good da fo long jing. Nowadays I would rather have good da fo long jing, since the "real" long jing could be ridiculously over-priced.