Sencha in NYC?

[joelbct]

Anyone know of any Sencha vendors in New York? Or do I just have to have it shipped?

Trying to avoid paying shipping, plus nice to support local businesses...

There must be some Japanese Groceries here that carry fresh loose-leaf Sencha other than the mediocre Yamomotoyama stuff...

[entropyembrace]

I think the tea gallery is in NYC and they have sencha.

[brandon]

I think the tea gallery is in NYC and they have sencha.

The Tea Gallery is closed for Summer

If you mail The Mandarin's Tea Room and mention you are interested in Japanese tea, I am sure you will be able to work something out.

There is still an Ito En just across the GWB in New Jersey (at Mistuwa Market).

[chingwa]

I don't know of any walk-in stores that actually sell quality sencha anymore. You can try Radiance Tea House in the 50's, though they seem geared more toward Chinese tea.

You can find some decent stuff at the Mitsuwa marketplace, but nothing mind blowing (except perhaps around shincha season)... and of course as mentioned there is the ito-en counter there.

I'd also like to mention that if you order from the Ito-en online store, shipments are delivered practically next day since their American headquarters / warehouse is in Brooklyn. ^_^

[zencha]

Sunrise Mart SoHo Store
494 Broome St. (bet. W. Broadway & Wooster Sts.)
New York, NY 10013TEL: 212-219-0099
They may have Otsuka's Fukamushi Sencha

Harney & Sons SoHo
433 Broome StreetNew York, NY
10013212-933-4853
Their website list Ichiban Sencha from Otsuka Green Tea Co.
As well as other Sencha .

You can also try In Pursuit of Tea , which is very close by .
33 Crosby St,
NYC NY 10013
Phone: 646-964-5223

and Makari
97 Third Avenue
New York, NY, 10003
Between 12th and 13th Street
212.995.5888
They may stock teas from Sara's Tea Caddie .

[zencha]

Sky Foods, a 36,000-square-foot Asian supermarket in a new shopping mall in Flushing, Queens has opened recently .
Haven't been there , but here's some info :

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/dinin ... stuff.html

http://skyfoods.com/

[joelbct]

Discovered Cha An sells their tea by the ounce.

But I am just ordering again, i'm employed again so I have a healthier tea budget... not the $300/month I was spending on tea and teaware a few years ago, but healthier nonetheless

[zencha]

Cha An sells their tea by the ounce.

They sourced their Japanese teas from Ito-en at one time ; not sure where they get it now . In any case they are a tea house , not a retailer , and marked-up their tea by the ounce 100% from Ito-en retail price .
Don't know about their current operation .

By the way , finally went to Sky Foods in Flushing ; didn't see anything other than supermarket tea .
Re: The Tea Gallery ; are they still in business ?

[zencha]

add Bellocq Tea Atelier as a NYC walk-in source of Japanese loose leaf tea
http://www.bellocq.com/search?q=japanese

don't know if Kusmi Tea counts but their NYC flagship store is on 3rd Ave. and 61st :
http://www.us.kusmitea.com/en/green-tea ... _info.html
http://www.us.kusmitea.com/en/store-loc ... ation.html

Unfortunately NYC based Sara's Tea Caddie is mail order only , their best teas are only available through tea shops such as The Tea Gallery . ( maybe Makari )
http://www.teacaddie.com/miva/merchant. ... e_Code=STC
http://www.teacaddie.com/wholesale.html