Shincha season's coming up, isn't it?

[MEversbergII]

So I've actually realized I've been here almost a year now (yey!) and shincha season's approaching.

Last year there was a lot of hubbub and I actually became aware of shincha because of it. Didn't order any, though! In fact, I didn't start drinking Japanese teas until a few months after shincha season.

This year I hope to remedy that! So for novices, where do we go to pre-order shincha (which is the normal method if I recall)? Who's got a reputation (good or ill)? What's an expectant price?

Thanks,

M.

[Noonie]

+1 (I'm in the exact same boat)

[Chip]

Shincha cometh ... after a long hard winter for most of us (that is not yet over)! Some of the earliest selections begin trickling into availability sometime from mid April or later ... and occasionally a little earlier. Earliest is NOT necessarily the best, in fact it usually is not ... it is simply a marketing thing getting a very early picking to market ... similar to Darjeeling first flush.

I think I have sampled at least 20 shincha selections each year since I have been drinking sencha. I guess you can say I am into it.

We also usually have a Shincha OTTI round or two on TeaChat featuring excellent vendors. You can check out the OTTI/NOTTI forum for past rounds.

And then there are the annual Shincha Ordering Topic and Shincha Review topics in this forum.

[eyvind]

Speaking of otti and notti... isn't there some asa and gyokuro upcoming?

In the past I usually ordered twice: in May then June this way I would capture the early and the late shincha.
When waiting for the new shincha to come out you can come down with constant checking anxiety to see when the next is available. You want to make sure the vendor still has all the ones you want but you maximize the number you order to save shipping cost. I am looking forward to shincha season!

[MEversbergII]

I think I'll join the OTTI for it. I've been meaning to join up one of those all year long!

M.

[tjsan]

First pre-order's from Kaburagi-en:

http://www.kaburagien.co.jp/english/yoyaku/index.php
http://www.kaburagien.co.jp/english/yakushima/index.php

Maybe its time for Official Shincha 2014 Topic?

[Jadee]

Where are you going to buy sincha? So far I've only tried it from o-cha and japaneseteashop.

[MEversbergII]

I think I'll go with the OTTI on this go around.

M.

[chingwa]

I'm not sure I'll buy shincha this year. I dunno, I've jumped on it in years past but I find I enjoy the flavor of slightly aged sencha quite a bit better. Of course it's always a nice change to have that brighter, grassier flavor... I suppose that in itself is the point.

[5am]

IT'S here!

[sherubtse]

IT'S here!

Indeed.

http://www.o-cha.com/shincha/

Best wishes,
sherubtse

[Balthazar]

Glad this thread is here, missed O-cha's facebook post about this yesterday. Just ordered 600 grams of tea. Something to look forward to when I'm finishing up my thesis in mid-May.

There is a discount code for FB-fans that gives 10% off on all of O-cha's shincha. Would it be against the rules to post it here? In any case, it can be found on the FB-page...

[tjsan]

Preorder from Sugimoto http://www.sugimotousa.com/mm5/merchant ... y_Code=SHI

[Devoted135]

I've just placed my shincha pre-order for the year. O-cha's chiran shincha and organic oku yutaka, as well as the sae midori. Looking forward to the new season!

[tjsan]

I've just placed my shincha pre-order for the year. O-cha's chiran shincha and organic oku yutaka, as well as the sae midori. Looking forward to the new season!

Hmm, I ordered once Chiran sencha, but unfortunately it never arrived to me, so I have no opinion about o-cha.