Top 5 Favorite Japanese Greens

[strickmr]

I'm going to take that idea into play, Chip!

As the shincha season has come to an end, perhaps it's time to review everyone's favorites. Have they changed? Have they remained the same throughout the spring? Do you even have them? This could be a good way to recommend teas people are in love with to those who don't have the opportunity to try every tea from every online company.

Well, here's mine of the different kinds of Japanese tea:

1) Sencha Yutuka Midori - O-Cha
2) Yame Gyokuro - O-Cha
3) Sencha Asamushi Aoi - O-Cha
4) Sencha Yame Fukamushi (I actually fell in love with this from the recent OTTI) - Hakoniwado
5) "Takumi" Gyokuro - Maiko

Feel free to take this as far as you want. Top five favorite sencha-s, gyokuro, or combine them all! Get as detailed as you wish. Have fun with it.

[Chip]

I might have to go top 10, narrowing it down to 5 is proving to be impossible for me.

[strickmr]

You're lucky to have 10 you're so fond of! I haven't had the opportunity yet to try 10 teas that are up to that quality.

[Chip]

Well, this was easier, unfortunately due to the troubles in Japan and no Shizuoka tea.

1. Yutaka Midori, O-Cha
2. Tsuru Jirushi Gyokuro, O-Cha
3. Kinari Shincha, Maiko
4. Sencha the Ultimate, Zencha
5. Aoi, O-Cha

6. Kaboku, Ippodo
7. Maruyama, Maiko
8. Kame Gyokuro, O-Cha
9. Kumpu, Ippodo
10. Takumi, Zencha

This list is pretty indicative of my fave five vendors as well.

[Chip]

You're lucky to have 10 you're so fond of! I haven't had the opportunity yet to try 10 teas that are up to that quality.

I have a head start on you, I have been focused on Japanese greens for a while now and try to sample around 20-30 sencha each year. Obviously a lot have not made the grade.

[strickmr]

20-30 sencha-s a year? Wow. Perhaps I'll ramp up a little bit more next year. And that's a mighty nice selection you've got there, Chip.

[Drax]

20-30 sencha-s a year? Wow. Perhaps I'll ramp up a little bit more next year. And that's a mighty nice selection you've got there, Chip.

Be sure to do the proper stretches before shooting for 20-30 senchas in a year, or you might strain yourself!

[sherubtse]

This could be a good way to recommend teas people are in love with to those who don't have the opportunity to try every tea from every online company.

I'm in this category, in addition to being a real beginner with Japanese greens. I'll read the comments posted here with much interest.

Best wishes,
sherubtse

[edkrueger]

Gyokuro
1. Tenka-ichi (Ippodo)
2. Kanro (Ippodo)
3. Yamashita-Jirushi (Maiko)
4. Rimpo (Ippodo)
5. Hekiun (Ippodo)

Sencha
1. Kaboku (Ippodo)
2. Shuppincha (Horaido)
3. Kumpu (Ippodo)
4. Hosen (Ippodo)

Shincha (2011)
1. Kinari (Maiko)
2. Shincha (Ippodo)
3. Shincha (Maiko)

[debunix]

My list is basically all asamushi sencha. I'm still a beginner with japanese greens, and prefer the lighter flavor profile of these teas that have not been grown and processed to maximize umami. These are all teas I've liked well enough to order again.

Sayamakaori sencha from Yuuki-cha
Honyama sencha from Yuuki-cha
Aoi sencha from O-Cha
Shinryoku sencha from Dens Tea
Zairai sencha from Norbu

I have also really enjoyed Bancha and Houjicha, but they really seem like a different class of tea.

[edkrueger]

You need to try some better (or at least more specialized) asamushi vendors. For someone who doesn't like too much Umami flavor, I would suggest Ippodo's Hosen.

[Chip]

This could be a good way to recommend teas people are in love with to those who don't have the opportunity to try every tea from every online company.

I'm in this category, in addition to being a real beginner with Japanese greens. I'll read the comments posted here with much interest.

Be sure to do the proper stretches before shooting for 20-30 senchas in a year, or you might strain yourself!

Kidney and bladder stretches help ...

This will be a more conservative harvest year personally. I usually try at least 20 shincha before moving on to regular ichibancha. This year due to all the problems in Japan, I had less than 10. I am still hoping for 20 this year.

[strickmr]

Let's hope for no more problems in Japan this winter. And I'll start workin' on those stretches.

[debunix]

You need to try some better (or at least more specialized) asamushi vendors. For someone who doesn't like too much Umami flavor, I would suggest Ippodo's Hosen.

I'm always interested in suggestions for new places to try, but at the moment I have a year plus' worth of sencha at present rates of consumption.

[iannon]

You need to try some better (or at least more specialized) asamushi vendors. For someone who doesn't like too much Umami flavor, I would suggest Ippodo's Hosen.

still need to have some ippodo myself..and hey...that horaido..i guess its good eh? horaido is another thats been on my list forever