Which are the Great Japanese Green Teas?

[JD]

It's been a year or two since I've really gotten into Japanese green teas, like Sencha and Shincha. I used to buy from O-cha quite a bit till I couldn't afford it anymore. Now that I got extra pocket cash, I've been searching around for Senchas and other Japanese greens, but it's all very confusing with all the different names and price ranges. Shincha, Sencha, Genmaicha, Gyokuro, and Hojicha. Not to mention the different names of each kind of tea in each genre of green tea. O-cha itself has 50-some different greens, ranging from $10 to $50, and it's all very confusing. The ratings seem to say that price doesn't matter when it comes to really good Japanese green tea. $50 can taste over-priced, and $30 can taste amazing.

So out of all the places that carry Japanese green teas, which ones are among the best? Sweet, vegetable tasting, very low bittered, fresh, high quality, and hopefully not worth a small fortune. My current Sencha is from SpecialTeas, $15, real cheapo, so just about ANYTHING will probably taste better than this. I think this sat over at SpecialTeas on a shelf for two years. I also have Genmaicha from SA (Sugimoto) which tastes much better than the Sencha. ;P

[Chip]

My current fave 5 ...

O-Cha
Zencha
Den's
Maiko
Rishi, Maeda-en

[JD]

Let me rephrase that.. out of all the places that carry Japanese green teas, which teas from which places are the best?

[Chip]

Have you looked under the TeaVendor Guide? There is a topic for Japanese Greens that lists topics for nominated vendors.

Yutaka Midori always reigns supreme for me. And now O-Cha has a new one called Supreme! Both of these will make you sit down and take full notice!!!

[JD]

Thanks for the tip on the tea vendor guide. That narrowed websites down.

[JD]

I went with O-cha's Uji Sencha Miyabi. Seemed like a good price, well rated sencha. Though I've found Yame to be a more popular sencha in Japan, so I'll probably go to Zencha next and order their Yame Sencha Ultimate.

I never did find any "special" senchas that are hand-processed. Hand-picked, yes, but not hand-processed from picking to finish. The kind they put into little bags, wrap in paper, then put several bags inside an urn, fill the urn with lesser quality sencha, close and seal, and let age for a while. Those special processed senchas seem to be Japan-only.

[iannon]

I went with O-cha's Uji Sencha Miyabi. Seemed like a good price, well rated sencha. Though I've found Yame to be a more popular sencha in Japan, so I'll probably go to Zencha next and order their Yame Sencha Ultimate.

I never did find any "special" senchas that are hand-processed. Hand-picked, yes, but not hand-processed from picking to finish. The kind they put into little bags, wrap in paper, then put several bags inside an urn, fill the urn with lesser quality sencha, close and seal, and let age for a while. Those special processed senchas seem to be Japan-only.

you can still find those hand rubbed senchas..see my latest pics here...
http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 45#p158098

[JD]

Oh, the hand-rubbed ones are Temomi? I was looking in sencha.

[iannon]

Oh, the hand-rubbed ones are Temomi? I was looking in sencha.

yup..search for temomi. you will find some out there. not a lot though it seems outside of Japan

[Dresden]

I went with O-cha's Uji Sencha Miyabi.

Nice choice!!!

I believe that the owner of O-Cha once said that if he could bring one tea with him to a desert island, it would be the Miyabi.

Cheers,
Mike

[JD]

I don't think I'll find any Temomi. It's far too rare outside of Japan. It's rare inside Japan too.

[iannon]

I don't think I'll find any Temomi. It's far too rare outside of Japan. It's rare inside Japan too.

umm..well..I just got some this past week. you CAN get some. Its out there.

[JD]

Link?

[iannon]

Link?

http://hiruma-en.ddo.jp/chougokujoucha1.html

[JD]

Too difficult for me to understand. Google Translator doesn't help much either.