Still nothing in my mailbox. Tomorrow I hope.ryan wrote: Anyone else have experiences to share?
Oct 13th, '08, 14:36
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Oct 17th, '08, 12:01
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Finally finished off the kuradashi pinacle I ordered back in October... It wasn't my favorite (if the time frame for completion didn't give that away). I found it more sweet than other gyokurus I have tried but in a way that was almost annoying. The taste felt thin and while the sweet flavor was left on my tongue for some time after a sip it almost taste dry/flat. I prefer a more full-bodied flavor. Can't wait to order a replacement gyokuru (not sure which yet, something from o-cha, possibly the one they have from yame).
Dec 15th, '08, 19:31
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That is a good one IMHO, especially at the price. It is not a 50 dollar gykuro, it does not pretend to be. I had 50 dollar Yame and while it was better, it was far from twice as good. I just reordered it.ryan wrote:Finally finished off the kuradashi pinacle I ordered back in October... It wasn't my favorite (if the time frame for completion didn't give that away). I found it more sweet than other gyokurus I have tried but in a way that was almost annoying. The taste felt thin and while the sweet flavor was left on my tongue for some time after a sip it almost taste dry/flat. I prefer a more full-bodied flavor. Can't wait to order a replacement gyokuru (not sure which yet, something from o-cha, possibly the one they have from yame).
blah blah blah SENCHA blah blah blah!!!
I still need to try out my pinnacle kuradashi, it's on my list of gyokuro i'm working up to get to my ultimate one.
As far as the Yame from O-cha is conerned, I didn't like it. It's a mediocre gyokuro and it doesn't really seem to make an attempt not to be. Thankfully it's priced as one, but that doesn't make me want some more of it.
As far as the Yame from O-cha is conerned, I didn't like it. It's a mediocre gyokuro and it doesn't really seem to make an attempt not to be. Thankfully it's priced as one, but that doesn't make me want some more of it.
Dec 15th, '08, 20:37
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Different strokes for different folks. I liked it enough to reorder. Mediocre is a bit rough of a label, perhaps a bit unfair. IMHO, when decribing a gyokuro, I think it must be done in relation to price since there is such an extremely wide price range. I have seen sub $20 to well over $100 for 100 grams.
I am sure the one costing twice as much from Lupicia is better, but it is twice the price. The O-Cha Yame is the best gyokuro I have had in that price range. It has a lot of the character of the one Yame costing 50 I had, just not of that pedigre. It is what it is.
Many cheaper gyokuro are not even true gyokuro, but actually Kabusecha. This is true gyokuro.
I am sure the one costing twice as much from Lupicia is better, but it is twice the price. The O-Cha Yame is the best gyokuro I have had in that price range. It has a lot of the character of the one Yame costing 50 I had, just not of that pedigre. It is what it is.
Many cheaper gyokuro are not even true gyokuro, but actually Kabusecha. This is true gyokuro.
I found the Gyokuro Kin from Den's to be a good contender in that price range. That price range however is a very narrow field. On either side you have two very distinct quality ranges, and these sit right in the middle.
Personally though, for me Gyokuro is special enough of a tea that I almost say to just damn the cost. Although I say that with something like 300 dollars worth of the stuff sitting on my table. But because I hold it so special, I don't want a Gyokuro because it's quality : price ratio is pretty good. I want something that is just outstanding. So that's why when I say it's mediocre, is because compared to the 50+ gyokuro, it fails.
I guess it all has to do with how often you drink Gyokuro. IIRC Chip drinks it on average of once a week. I on the other hand am averaging maybe 1 every other month. This month has put that average a bit higher though. So over the past year maybe 1 / mo. So for me I would rather have a more sublime experience than have more of them at a less sublime level.
Currently the Gyokuro which holds the crown was a Yame Gyokuro supplied by Bassaro in France (I know you're shocked it's not Lupicia). That stuff was absolutley sublime. If I could order it in the US, I would.
Personally though, for me Gyokuro is special enough of a tea that I almost say to just damn the cost. Although I say that with something like 300 dollars worth of the stuff sitting on my table. But because I hold it so special, I don't want a Gyokuro because it's quality : price ratio is pretty good. I want something that is just outstanding. So that's why when I say it's mediocre, is because compared to the 50+ gyokuro, it fails.
I guess it all has to do with how often you drink Gyokuro. IIRC Chip drinks it on average of once a week. I on the other hand am averaging maybe 1 every other month. This month has put that average a bit higher though. So over the past year maybe 1 / mo. So for me I would rather have a more sublime experience than have more of them at a less sublime level.
Currently the Gyokuro which holds the crown was a Yame Gyokuro supplied by Bassaro in France (I know you're shocked it's not Lupicia). That stuff was absolutley sublime. If I could order it in the US, I would.
I tend to drink gyokuru once a week if I have something I like. It is interesting to me that you drink it once every two months. Does that mean a 50g bag will take you all year to go through? Doesn't it get stale?
I made my first order from lupicia last month (yutaka midori and yubakita). I was tempted to try one of their gyokurus but they do not list the size of the bag... is it a 25g bag for $30? 50g? 100g? Who knows!
One of these days when I have some extra money I would love to try a $50+ gyokuru but I don't think that will come anytime in then next few months.
I made my first order from lupicia last month (yutaka midori and yubakita). I was tempted to try one of their gyokurus but they do not list the size of the bag... is it a 25g bag for $30? 50g? 100g? Who knows!
One of these days when I have some extra money I would love to try a $50+ gyokuru but I don't think that will come anytime in then next few months.
Dec 16th, '08, 09:54
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Good points. I feel the same way when I am enjoying gyokuro in that rare and special moment, I want it to be very special and will not use this moment for the Yame Supreme from O-Cha, but for a significantly higher grade, for a gyokuro that will make me sit down and take notice.Pentox wrote:I found the Gyokuro Kin from Den's to be a good contender in that price range. That price range however is a very narrow field. On either side you have two very distinct quality ranges, and these sit right in the middle.
Personally though, for me Gyokuro is special enough of a tea that I almost say to just damn the cost. Although I say that with something like 300 dollars worth of the stuff sitting on my table. But because I hold it so special, I don't want a Gyokuro because it's quality : price ratio is pretty good. I want something that is just outstanding. So that's why when I say it's mediocre, is because compared to the 50+ gyokuro, it fails.
I guess it all has to do with how often you drink Gyokuro. IIRC Chip drinks it on average of once a week. I on the other hand am averaging maybe 1 every other month. This month has put that average a bit higher though. So over the past year maybe 1 / mo. So for me I would rather have a more sublime experience than have more of them at a less sublime level.
Currently the Gyokuro which holds the crown was a Yame Gyokuro supplied by Bassaro in France (I know you're shocked it's not Lupicia). That stuff was absolutley sublime. If I could order it in the US, I would.
The Yame Supreme is instead approached as an "everyday gyokuro" which is hard to find in the price range of $28. I refuse to drink crappy gyokuro, been there and done that. The Yame Supreme has bridged the gap between the "crappies" and the "premos" IMHO. It is not the special moment gyokuro, I tried it for that, it does not work for me, but approached for more casually, it works extremely well for me.
Ryan, some of the premo offerings are available in 50 grammers. O-Cha has "Kame-Giru-Shi" in a 50 grammer. I am going to be trying this one very soon. Lupicia's Yame Hoshino looks like a 50 grammer for $30. If you want to try a very good Yame, the Zencha Ultimate from Yame is $25 for 50 grams.
blah blah blah SENCHA blah blah blah!!!
I normally share most of the teas I try, so I give some of it away to friends. And normally when i'm done exploring a tea i've gone through quite a bit of it.ryan wrote:I tend to drink gyokuru once a week if I have something I like. It is interesting to me that you drink it once every two months. Does that mean a 50g bag will take you all year to go through? Doesn't it get stale?
I made my first order from lupicia last month (yutaka midori and yubakita). I was tempted to try one of their gyokurus but they do not list the size of the bag... is it a 25g bag for $30? 50g? 100g? Who knows!
One of these days when I have some extra money I would love to try a $50+ gyokuru but I don't think that will come anytime in then next few months.
Lupicia does list the size on their website, it's not made very blatant, but it's in the upper left corner of the beige box. But as a rule of thumb almost everything they sell is by default a 50g bag. The two exceptions are certain houjicha and matcha. Kaga Bocha and Kyobancha come in 100g bags and matcha comes in 20g, except for the o-matcha which is 100g. There are a few other 100g options in the Special Selection, but those are also avail in 50g.