Nov 17th, '10, 14:58
Posts: 203
Joined: Feb 28th, '10, 01:31
Location: Phoenix Arizona
The Vendor itoen?
Has anyone ever ordered from this vendor? Dr. Andrew Weil (MD) and director of integrative medicine at the University of Arizona suggested this website. I was wondering if anyone has tried their teas.
Nov 17th, '10, 23:54
Posts: 20891
Joined: Apr 22nd, '06, 20:52
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji
Re: The Vendor itoen?
Tried a few, but it was from their now closed retail store. It was OK, seemed faded a bit.
I am thinking online it would be better. I should give them a retry.
I am thinking online it would be better. I should give them a retry.
Nov 18th, '10, 00:02
Posts: 203
Joined: Feb 28th, '10, 01:31
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Re: The Vendor itoen?
They have a pretty big selection. Not sure what I would try from them. Thanks Chip.
Re: The Vendor itoen?
I've tried from them many times. Mostly from their retail store in NYC (now closed) and this year from their website. They have a broad range of tea/tisanes/ and "new-age" combinations (houjicha and vanilla?! bleagh!)
While their japanese greens have never been very notable to me, there are a few standouts... their ChiranKanayamidori is(usually) an excellent fukamushi. nice dark and cloudy and sweet/savory
I say usually though, because the last time I tried it (September?) it was decidedly weaker than I remember. The price is very reasonable.
I also tried some small estate batch they had hidden behind the counter once that was E X C E L L E N T (and $$$), but sad to say we can only order over the online counter now.
Their Matcha leaves a lot to be desired and are a total waste of money imho... UNLESS you get their top end Banreki-no-mukashi, which is actually quite good.
Skip their Gyokuros and Shin-chas. I have had a few samples of their chinese teas but have not been impressed, and am not into chinese teas as much anyway. Noteably they seem too have a lack of serious oolong... and puhehr... hmmm...
I just got a new shipment in of the ChiranKanayamidori and also the Okumidori sencha. I'll post some impressions in the weeks to come. What I like about ItoEn and why I continue to order from them is mainly the convenience (and I had a love affair going on with the chiran...). I'm in NYC and their USA webshop is operated out of Brooklyn, so the shipping is super fast. It's a great "holy-crap-I'm-outta-tea-and-need-some-now!" resource.
While their japanese greens have never been very notable to me, there are a few standouts... their ChiranKanayamidori is(usually) an excellent fukamushi. nice dark and cloudy and sweet/savory
I say usually though, because the last time I tried it (September?) it was decidedly weaker than I remember. The price is very reasonable.I also tried some small estate batch they had hidden behind the counter once that was E X C E L L E N T (and $$$), but sad to say we can only order over the online counter now.
Their Matcha leaves a lot to be desired and are a total waste of money imho... UNLESS you get their top end Banreki-no-mukashi, which is actually quite good.
Skip their Gyokuros and Shin-chas. I have had a few samples of their chinese teas but have not been impressed, and am not into chinese teas as much anyway. Noteably they seem too have a lack of serious oolong... and puhehr... hmmm...
I just got a new shipment in of the ChiranKanayamidori and also the Okumidori sencha. I'll post some impressions in the weeks to come. What I like about ItoEn and why I continue to order from them is mainly the convenience (and I had a love affair going on with the chiran...). I'm in NYC and their USA webshop is operated out of Brooklyn, so the shipping is super fast.
It's a great "holy-crap-I'm-outta-tea-and-need-some-now!" resource.Re: The Vendor itoen?
Well I've been through my last ito-en order (see above) and ended up pretty happy. The Okumidori sencha was a great refreshing/flavorful asamushi (or, perhaps Chu-mushi???)... probably the best sencha I've had from them within memory. It's slightly on the pricy side but I would get it again without hesitation.
The Chiran was a bit of a disappointment again, at first! But after experimenting with brewing technique with this tea I've gotten to a point where I really am getting good consistent results, and would recommend it to anyone who likes fukas on the light side and pretty cheap. My brewing recommendations for this are as follows...
1.25 tbsp to 200oz water... 2 min(165f)/ 20 sec(170f) / 45 sec(180f)
I usually use more tea and less time for most senchas, but this one was getting a bit wacky in flavor with higher amounts of tea. This suits me fine though as the bag will last a bit longer this way ^_^
The Chiran was a bit of a disappointment again, at first! But after experimenting with brewing technique with this tea I've gotten to a point where I really am getting good consistent results, and would recommend it to anyone who likes fukas on the light side and pretty cheap. My brewing recommendations for this are as follows...
1.25 tbsp to 200oz water... 2 min(165f)/ 20 sec(170f) / 45 sec(180f)
I usually use more tea and less time for most senchas, but this one was getting a bit wacky in flavor with higher amounts of tea. This suits me fine though as the bag will last a bit longer this way ^_^