Mar 30th, '09, 15:49
Posts: 20891
Joined: Apr 22nd, '06, 20:52
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Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji
Shincha is a critical tasting time for me.
I always try to maintain my objectivity (and hopefully credibility too
) coming into a new harvest, and part of this is trying a wide array of shincha from a wide array of vendors. Some will be annual repeats while others will be new for me.
However, it is virtually impossible to try anything and everything and still have fresh/vibrant shincha. There are too many vendors and way way too many shincha. I am up to 8 so far, hoping to up this to as many as 12-16. I will also be conducting tasting/samplings for the 2nd year.
I will most definitely be on top of O-Cha, an annual event. Yutaka Midori and Fukamushi Supreme. I am likely adding 1-2-3 more depending on what is being offered as shincha and when.
Den's, Kunpu and Houryoku (one is fuka, one is asa). Not too sure about Hashiri this year.
Zencha, Takumi and one other to be determined. I like to focus on their Yame Shincha since it is pretty rare ... or at least unusual.
Yuuki-Cha, a newcomer to shincha and organic for me. Definitely trying the Yabe and the Kagoshima (another Yutaka Midori). Maybe add another.
On the fence: Lupicia, Rishi (should they jump on the shincha bandwagon this year!), Hibiki-an maybe their fuka and asa.
Other more remote possibilities: Kaburagian, Maiko, Ippodo, Ryu Mei, JGTO, Sugimoto ...
I always try to maintain my objectivity (and hopefully credibility too
) coming into a new harvest, and part of this is trying a wide array of shincha from a wide array of vendors. Some will be annual repeats while others will be new for me. However, it is virtually impossible to try anything and everything and still have fresh/vibrant shincha. There are too many vendors and way way too many shincha. I am up to 8 so far, hoping to up this to as many as 12-16. I will also be conducting tasting/samplings for the 2nd year.
I will most definitely be on top of O-Cha, an annual event. Yutaka Midori and Fukamushi Supreme. I am likely adding 1-2-3 more depending on what is being offered as shincha and when.
Den's, Kunpu and Houryoku (one is fuka, one is asa). Not too sure about Hashiri this year.
Zencha, Takumi and one other to be determined. I like to focus on their Yame Shincha since it is pretty rare ... or at least unusual.
Yuuki-Cha, a newcomer to shincha and organic for me. Definitely trying the Yabe and the Kagoshima (another Yutaka Midori). Maybe add another.
On the fence: Lupicia, Rishi (should they jump on the shincha bandwagon this year!), Hibiki-an maybe their fuka and asa.
Other more remote possibilities: Kaburagian, Maiko, Ippodo, Ryu Mei, JGTO, Sugimoto ...
Mar 30th, '09, 23:39
Posts: 20891
Joined: Apr 22nd, '06, 20:52
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Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji
I do a lot of "tasting/samplings." So it can go pretty fast.JustinW wrote:I am up to 8 so far, hoping to up this to as many as 12-16How long does that last you?
Last night I ordered O-Cha's Kirameki, Yutaka Midori, and Fukamushi. So that makes 3 so far. How long is shincha usually available for? Is it all pretty much gone by the end of June?
Shincha should be off of availability by June/July, once it is gone, it is gone. I see some vendors continue to offer it way beyond July, which is a break from Japanese tradition.
Apr 1st, '09, 09:53
Posts: 1574
Joined: Dec 30th, '08, 21:16
Location: The foot of the great Smoky Mountains
So did I..but I pre-ordered from a smaller family organic farm..Shizuno-en sold off of www.sasara.com/tea/farm.html . I know..obscure..but HEY I live on the EDGE! 
although i will probably get some from one of the better known sources listed above in Chips email too..would like to compare for next time round.
although i will probably get some from one of the better known sources listed above in Chips email too..would like to compare for next time round.I wonder if it would be prudent for this group to put together their own purchasing group for these types of events. We could save significantly on bulk purchases and on shipping. (1 bulk shipment from Japan to the US.)
We'd have to setup a website to take down ordering information and payment, then someone would have to receive the bulk shipment and be willing to forward individual shipments. This would probably only work within the US, but Canadians could possibly also participate.
This would only work for a few sites and a few products so it's not overwhelming. If anyone knows the owner of O-cha, I'd inquire about bulk purchases.
We'd have to setup a website to take down ordering information and payment, then someone would have to receive the bulk shipment and be willing to forward individual shipments. This would probably only work within the US, but Canadians could possibly also participate.
This would only work for a few sites and a few products so it's not overwhelming. If anyone knows the owner of O-cha, I'd inquire about bulk purchases.
I look forward to hearing how your tea from this farm turns out.iannon wrote:So did I..but I pre-ordered from a smaller family organic farm..Shizuno-en sold off of www.sasara.com/tea/farm.html . I know..obscure..but HEY I live on the EDGE!
Thanks so much for posting this!! I will definitely preorder. I've had their powdered tea but purchased it from Shizuokatea.com instead of direct from the sourceiannon wrote:So did I..but I pre-ordered from a smaller family organic farm..Shizuno-en sold off of www.sasara.com/tea/farm.html . I know..obscure..but HEY I live on the EDGE!
I plan on finally buying myself a kyusu and giving the Hatsumi Shincha a try from o-cha.
http://www.o-cha.com/green-tea/tokoname ... ki703.html
Anyone else have this pot?
http://www.o-cha.com/green-tea/tokoname ... ki703.html
Anyone else have this pot?
Apr 2nd, '09, 21:21
Posts: 20891
Joined: Apr 22nd, '06, 20:52
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Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji
Cherylopal has it. Says she loves it.PolyhymnianMuse wrote:I plan on finally buying myself a kyusu and giving the Hatsumi Shincha a try from o-cha.
http://www.o-cha.com/green-tea/tokoname ... ki703.html
Anyone else have this pot?
Hatsumi was incredible in 2007/8. Had a tougher year last year with mixed reviews. Once I figured it out, it was quite good. I am betting on a good year for Hatsumi, better than last. These things go in cycles.
