Maiko "Official" Japanese tea topic

[tortoise]

The Gyokuro Nan-zen is an excellent value.

[gargoylekitty]

The Gyokuro Nan-zen is an excellent value.

Agreed, finishing off some of the last of it from when it was on sale(got it and some Maruyama for 3,000 yen). Considering trying their Fugenji-Midori on my next buy though.

[Chesslover]

Do they have any fukamushi Senchas? i can't find that information on their page...

[Chip]

Do they have any fukamushi Senchas? i can't find that information on their page...

I believe they sell all asamushi style teas.

[Chesslover]

Thank you Chip.

[Stentor]

They're having their yearly pre-shincha sale again. I just placed a modest order.
For those who have never had any of their sencha or Yamashita's gyokuro, now's a good time to give them a try.

After having lots of chumushi-esque asamushi and fukamushi sencha the past year (good teas though, I'm not complaining), I found myself in the mood for some genuine unadulterated asamushi sencha and figured Maiko's website was a good place to start. I was happy to see that Maruyama (among others) is on sale until the end of March

I'm also going to try their one organic sencha. And of course, I have to get at least one bag of their excellent value sencha, Kamo (not "on sale").

[SilentChaos]

I just got my Gyokuro Nan-zen and Sencha Maruyama from their sale the other day. The Nan-zen for some reason tastes really flat and flavourless. I think I must be brewing it wrong.

[Chip]

I just got my Gyokuro Nan-zen and Sencha Maruyama from their sale the other day. The Nan-zen for some reason tastes really flat and flavourless. I think I must be brewing it wrong.

How are you brewing it? They do have a gyokuro brewing guide as well.

[SilentChaos]

I just got my Gyokuro Nan-zen and Sencha Maruyama from their sale the other day. The Nan-zen for some reason tastes really flat and flavourless. I think I must be brewing it wrong.

How are you brewing it? They do have a gyokuro brewing guide as well.

Hmmm...I just brewed it again, more taste this time, but it's all astringency and little sweetness. I'm using a small kyusu, 10g Nan-zen, 100ml water at 55C, 90 seconds. Everything pre-heated.

[Chip]

You might try it more geared towards Western taste buds by adjusting your brewing and see what happens. I would lower the temp a bit. 50-52* C ... small difference but if your results are unsatisfactory at a higher temp, try cooler.

Also, maybe try lower ratio of leaf to water. Try 2 grams to 1 ounce (30 ml) water. Continue to preheat everything, and try 90 seconds again.

Unfortunately I have never tried this Gyokuro ... but TBH at this price point of around 25 USD per 100 grams I would be surprised to get satisfactory results at such a high leaf to water ratio. Usually for less expensive gyo, I use lower leaf ratios.

[SilentChaos]

I tried 3 to 1 last time and it becomes so bland that it tastes like gyo flavoured water. I shall try again with 2 to 1. *waves about, anyone had experience with the Nan-zen before?

Unfortunately I have never tried this Gyokuro ... but TBH at this price point of around 25 USD per 100 grams I would be surprised to get satisfactory results at such a high leaf to water ratio. Usually for less expensive gyo, I use lower leaf ratios.

Very true, I think I am now convinced there is no such thing as a decent yet cheap gyo. The last gyo I had was okabe premium from shizuokatea (28usd) and I had to brew it at a 5 to 1 ratio! Although, I am still rather tempted to try the Yame and Shou-un from o-cha from what you have said about them. (Wouldn't happen to know what breed the yame is?)

[Chip]

Let's discuss O-Cha teas under the O-Cha topic versus the Maiko topic.

[Stentor]

I got my package from Maiko yesterday.
In case anybody was wondering (like I was before ordering), the expiration date on the discounted Maruyama says September 30, 2012. So there's no hurry to consume it

[Chip]

I got my package from Maiko yesterday.
In case anybody was wondering (like I was before ordering), the expiration date on the discounted Maruyama says September 30, 2012. So there's no hurry to consume it

I received a Maiko package yesterday too (Saturday). Took advantage mostly of sale items, but opened Hachiju-hachiya first. Excellent so far!

Sale buys ... Maruyama, the Yamashita 5 gyokuro sampler set (wooo), and the Matsu matcha. The most intriguing sale item in my mind os the Yamashita Gyokuro set which includes some really expensive selections.

[iannon]

I got my package from Maiko yesterday.
In case anybody was wondering (like I was before ordering), the expiration date on the discounted Maruyama says September 30, 2012. So there's no hurry to consume it

I received a Maiko package yesterday too (Saturday). Took advantage mostly of sale items, but opened Hachiju-hachiya first. Excellent so far!

Sale buys ... Maruyama, the Yamashita 5 gyokuro sampler set (wooo), and the Matsu matcha. The most intriguing sale item in my mind os the Yamashita Gyokuro set which includes some really expensive selections.

man..ive never had the higher levels of Yamashita..you must tell me how they go!