Umami-Chaya - New Vendor - UPDATED!

[teaisme]

I get a kick out of this forum sometimes. Guess it's just human nature for people to try and prove other people wrong, and then smear it in their face and be all glee about it.
Anyways, this is a decently new vendor, not much is known yet, especially about consistent quality, so why don't people try some of their teas before getting into lengthy discussions.
Chip is there a specific reason why you have not yet decided to try any teas from this vendor? I consider you a knowledgeable source who tries a wide range of tea from many vendors, so I'm interested in your opinion on them, especially for their Yutaka Midori and 2 yame gyokuros.

[Chip]

Chip is there a specific reason why you have not yet decided to try any teas from this vendor? I consider you a knowledgeable source who tries a wide range of tea from many vendors, so I'm interested in your opinion on them, especially for their Yutaka Midori and 2 yame gyokuros.

Thank you for asking! I think I have tried around 22 sencha so far this harvest. I must in fairness and objectivity try this vendor as well! I truly go out of my way to try as many as possible, and share the exerience and the actual leaf along the way as well.

They have been on my radar, and I definitely will be trying a few soon. The YM is tops on my to try list. I would be happy to share it with anyone who is interested.

You bring up an interesting point about consistency, hard to perform on a high level over the long haul. My experience tells me, they will likely either increase some prices once they build a following, or they will buy a lower priced offering in order to maintain the price point. I have seen this occur toooo many times.

[olivierco]

Thank you for asking! I think I have tried around 22 sencha so far this harvest.

22 including already tasted in previous harvests or 22 completely new to you?

[Chip]

Thank you for asking! I think I have tried around 22 sencha so far this harvest.

22 including already tasted in previous harvests or 22 completely new to you?

Well, each harvest is "new" to me.

Off the top of my head, I would say around 1/3 were new to me, first time. I also try to include a few new vendors I have not tried each year as well.

[olivierco]

Off the top of my head, I would say around 1/3 were new to me, first time. I also try to include a few new vendors I have not tried each year as well.

I used to taste many teas but I gradually limited their number. I have only bought four different sencha (Kaboku, Ippodo shincha, Ujibashi san no ma aka Kirameki and Warashina) since the beginning of the year. I might add one from marukyu-koyamaen (very tempting shop with some nice teaware too) though.

[Chip]

TBH, one primary reason I do, I do it to maintain a high level of objectivity in this one type of tea. I don't do it with any other tea, Japanese or otherwise.

Not sure if I will keep this level up ... but as long as I am enjoying it presently, I will continue.

Plus I get a big kick in sharing. I always look back to 3.5+ years ago when I joined TC. I mentioned I liked Japanese teas, especially sencha. I was almost laughed off the forum. The sencha almost everyone had access to back then was reallllly lousy.

It is amazing how things have changed market wise, but also member perceptions as well as they are trying "the good stuff." It has been rewarding to play a very small role in this metamorphosis.

[olivierco]

Not sure if I will keep this level up ... but as long as I am enjoying it presently, I will continue.

I agree: enjoying the tea you are drinking is the most important.

[Intuit]

Most of us are just happy as hell that we do HAVE choice among many fine Japanese teas available from dependable vendors.

Umami-chaya is a new vendor, seeking to establish marketshare by offering discounts and free shipping. Enjoy it while you can, but remember to support the bread and butter vendors - they are your staple sources.

[Ed]

I didn't get free shipping. I did jump on the introductory prices on the new Shizuoka sencha though. Even without the discounts, this is good sencha for ~$20. But yeah, if they jack up their prices suddenly then it becomes a lot less attractive.

[iannon]

i was looking at that matcha as well..the green label one.. is that not the same one that yuuki carries? that one is the green label too i believe but yukki is actully 4.95 cheaper? maybe im wrong

[Ed]

Nice catch, iannon. It does look like the same tin.

[ummaya]

the green label one.. is that not the same one that yuuki carries? that one is the green label too i believe but yukki is actully 4.95 cheaper?

Nice catch, iannon. It does look like the same tin.

It does "look" the same but I don't think it is : the Yuuki-Cha matcha is organic : it has the "organic" Japanese Ministry of Agriculture certification label on the tin - JAS - The Umami- Chaya tin has an other label; I cannot read Japanese but it does not look like a "Organic" label.

[iannon]

ah yes you are probably right..still I believe id take the organic *shrug* just my choice/preference

[teaisme]

Hey ed or anyone else...
have you tried their Organic Kagoshima Sencha ?
How does it compare to some of yuuki's teas like Organic Kagoshima Sencha Magokoro?
There is another nice discount going on now on ebay if anyone else is interested, 100g for $10 , shipping included. Wow $15 off really can't beat that price for what seems like a good organic sencha.

[Ed]

I haven't tried their organic sencha yet. Thanks for the heads up on the ebay deal.