Zencha "Official" Japanese tea topic

[Chip]

NEW! Official Japanese Green Tea Vendor Guide: Zencha.net Consider this a perennial topic for Japanese teas from Zencha.

http://www.zencha.net/index.php

Official Japanese Green Tea Vendor Guide. Let's see what happens with this wild and crazy idea. You can view the main Japanese TeaVendor Guide here: http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11556 and the main TeaVendor Guide here: http://www.teachat.com/viewforum.php?f=60

[Chip]

Zencha is a newer member of my top 5 fave Japanese vendors, around 2-3 years or so. They offer some unique sencha, including Yame sencha, "Gyokuro grown in the sun." And now Yame Matcha.

I enjoy the Yame Takumi and Yame Sencha the Ultimate, also the Yame Matcha Sansui and Kasumi. The Fuji Super Premium actually impressed me more than the higher priced Fuji the Ultimate.

They have some nice Hagi as well, the source of "da bombe" Kyusu/Yunomi set I have spoken of on occasion.

[iannon]

Ahh Zencha.. i REALLY enjoyed the Takumi Shincha this past spring! Was one of my favorites of the year to be honest. The "free" shipping is nice. yes perhaps a good marketing tactic but still their price points seem good to me. I also have enjoyed the more budget minded Sencha Moe as well and their Yame Matchas! I also have a big batch of their regular Genmaicha..not bad stuff!

[Oni]

Takumi and Kiwami were the best mid steamed sencha I had this year. How is Zencha`s yame gyokuro? Is is light steamed and worth the 50 $?

[olivierco]

How is Zencha`s yame gyokuro? Is is light steamed and worth the 50 $?

no and yes.

[puerhking]

Last year I bought these in shincha form:

Fuji the Ultimate
Premium Sencha Kiwami
Kuki-cha super premium

They were all good but I seemed to favor the Kiwami and Kuki-cha SP over the Fuji. The Kiwami and Kuki-cha SP also represented a good value for the quality of the teas.

[entropyembrace]

Thinking of making a small Zencha order if O-cha doesn´t restock the cup I want in the next week or so...included shipping means guilt free overseas small orders.

Any suggestions? From the sincha OTTI I liked best Yutaka Midori Supreme and Houryoku...so I´m looking for a sweet fuka I think. I´m eyeing Fuji Super Premium based on Chip´s comment.

[Chip]

Entropy, the Takumi from Zencha has character similar to the YM, though it is overall milder I would say, perhaps smoother. THey have some very nice sencha and are sitting at #3 on my fave five list.

[entropyembrace]

Entropy, the Takumi from Zencha has character similar to the YM, though it is overall milder I would say, perhaps smoother. THey have some very nice sencha and are sitting at #3 on my fave five list.

Thanks Chip, I´ll give the Takumi a try

[iannon]

Entropy, the Takumi from Zencha has character similar to the YM, though it is overall milder I would say, perhaps smoother. THey have some very nice sencha and are sitting at #3 on my fave five list.

Thanks Chip, I´ll give the Takumi a try

did you order some?
Takumi is on my "get it every season" list right now

[entropyembrace]

Entropy, the Takumi from Zencha has character similar to the YM, though it is overall milder I would say, perhaps smoother. THey have some very nice sencha and are sitting at #3 on my fave five list.

Thanks Chip, I´ll give the Takumi a try

did you order some?
Takumi is on my "get it every season" list right now

not yet...waiting for paypal to load funds from my bank xD

[entropyembrace]

I´m being drawn towards the Fuga Super Premium...something about how those leaves look...has anyone tried it?

[Chip]

I tried the Fuga LE in a tasting (pre OTTI). It was pretty interesting. I would like to try a higher grade and see how it stacks up to the Fuji line-up.

[entropyembrace]

I placed an order for the Fuga SP...little voices in my head were telling me to go for that one...and they are usually right.

Checkout process was very fast and easy...looking forward to the package arriving

[entropyembrace]

the voices were right!

My order arrived today and the Fuga Super Premium is very good! In the cup it´s the darkest green I´ve seen yet! Mouthfeel is very smooth and there is a LOT of umami. Also a touch of herbal bitterness. A lot of sediment is coming through even through the kyusu filter but I don´t mind...actually I´m finding I really like drinking the fine sediment that comes through from fukamushi it gives me a rush of energy