I recently purchased Den's Guricha and Mellow Monk's TopLeaf... Mellow Monk describes their tea as a type of sencha called tamaryokucha which is the same as guiricha... Instead of being a straight leaf the tea is curly comma shaped. See the link(s) below for descriptions.
http://www.mellowmonk.com/2008/01/tamar ... richa.html
http://www.mellowmonk.com/buyGreenTea.htm
http://www.denstea.com/index.php?main_p ... db7b0d76b4
I am sure many of you are familiar with the packaging from Den's... 56g shiny metal looking re-sealable pouch. Monks comes in a simple shiny 100g plastic like sealed bag with their logo on it. I have never been a fan of Den's packaging because it makes me feel like I am paying for the package that I am going to toss after I finish the tea.
Comparing the two Den's Guricha has a great aroma. Opening the bag you are greeted with a very deep green smell I would compare to some of the yutaki midoris I have had. The leaves are a deep green color and most are slightly curled however there are quite a few leaves that are broken / not curly possibly because they are way too short.
In contrast Mellow Monk's tea does not appear to have much of an aroma at all. There is a faint essence but it doesn't startle you with its power. The leaves themselves are not as deep green as Den's however they are all in perfect curly shapes and very few broken leaves. They are impressive to look at because almost every leaf you find is perfectly shaped.
I am still trying to figure out the optimal brewing for each tea. So far I have brewed Dens Guricha quite a few times and I am very happy with it. The taste is very nice and I am able to get a good sweet flavor with a slight astringency left on the tongue. I am having trouble finding the right temperature to get a good cup from the Mellow Monk tea. So far I am finding I need to use quite a bit more leaf plus a higher temperature to get a flavorful cup. The taste isn't as sweet and is more earthy tasting than Den's but still pleasant.
I have ordered quite a few different tea's from Den's and so far this is my favorite I will definitely order it again. The jury is still out on Mellow Monk's however it is priced very well and is labeled as organic. As I go through the 100g and find brewing parameters I like I think I will explore a few more of their teas at some point this year.
176°f - 1 min - 1tsp/100ml. That always works well for guricha for me.
I've had both, enjoyed both, and even reviewed both.
Den's is much more potent, releasing plentiful aroma and savory flavor. Mellow Monk's, on the other hand, is more tame and delicate. Its flavors don't smack you upside the head like Den's. Instead, you search for them and they grace you with a small curtsy when you find them.
For some reason I feel that Den's has been over-chemically-fertilized, and I don't feel as great drinking it.
What you can notice in Mellow Monk's is the terroir. Top Leaf was grown in volcanic soil, and has developed a very slight minerality, and a tame balance which are the result of the soil and weather conditions of the area.
Monk's Choice has a flavor that is more like Den's, but also carries the graham flavor, a characteristic of lower quality sencha. So far I've enjoyed Mellow Monk's teas as they are more intellectually stimulating. No punchy flavors for the uninitiated, but upon close inspection, they shine with subtle grace.
I've had both, enjoyed both, and even reviewed both.
Den's is much more potent, releasing plentiful aroma and savory flavor. Mellow Monk's, on the other hand, is more tame and delicate. Its flavors don't smack you upside the head like Den's. Instead, you search for them and they grace you with a small curtsy when you find them.
For some reason I feel that Den's has been over-chemically-fertilized, and I don't feel as great drinking it.
What you can notice in Mellow Monk's is the terroir. Top Leaf was grown in volcanic soil, and has developed a very slight minerality, and a tame balance which are the result of the soil and weather conditions of the area.
Monk's Choice has a flavor that is more like Den's, but also carries the graham flavor, a characteristic of lower quality sencha. So far I've enjoyed Mellow Monk's teas as they are more intellectually stimulating. No punchy flavors for the uninitiated, but upon close inspection, they shine with subtle grace.
Don't forget to try the Shiraore from Mellow Monk as well (that one is now known as Monk's Bliss). It's a very good tamaryokucha karigane. I'm drinking a cup of it right now. The sad thing is that it seems like as soon as we mention a good tea here, they raise the price on it. 
Hopefully Mellow Monk won't do that. It's very good tea and the price is right - plus shipping cost is very reasonable. I think the Top Leaf or Monk's Bliss make a perfect everyday green.
Den's guricha is a completely different tea, as you all have noted. I love it but it's definitely not organic by any means. This is tamaryokucha on steroids:!: But doesn't the dry leaf smell amazing? Wesli and I have both noticed that Den's guricha seems to have the ability to put one in a good mood.
Hopefully Mellow Monk won't do that. It's very good tea and the price is right - plus shipping cost is very reasonable. I think the Top Leaf or Monk's Bliss make a perfect everyday green. Den's guricha is a completely different tea, as you all have noted. I love it but it's definitely not organic by any means. This is tamaryokucha on steroids:!: But doesn't the dry leaf smell amazing? Wesli and I have both noticed that Den's guricha seems to have the ability to put one in a good mood.
Jan 2nd, '09, 10:13
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I should first mention I never tried Mellow Monk. I have tried Den's Guricha on several occasions.
MM's is cert. eco friendly farmed in other regions of Japan. There are likely reasons why we do not see sencha from these regions, including possibly lower quality sencha and/or simply less flavorful product. Or "mellower" product.
I do correspond with Den on occasion since meeting him at the Expo and may ask for his opinion.
Nor is Mellow Monk's certified organic. Just wanted to mention that.Ed wrote:Den's guricha is a completely different tea, as you all have noted. I love it but it's definitely not organic by any means. This is tamaryokucha on steroids:!: But doesn't the dry leaf smell amazing? Wesli and I have both noticed that Den's guricha seems to have the ability to put one in a good mood.
I am not sure one can make such a claim as over fertilizing based on taste, unless there is a chemical taste which I have not noticed. The differences could be the result of many differing factors including where they are grown. Den's is Shizuoka which is somehow in my mind more likely to produce a stronger cup in general.Wesli wrote:For some reason I feel that Den's has been over-chemically-fertilized, and I don't feel as great drinking it.
What you can notice in Mellow Monk's is the terroir. Top Leaf was grown in volcanic soil, and has developed a very slight minerality, and a tame balance which are the result of the soil and weather conditions of the area.
MM's is cert. eco friendly farmed in other regions of Japan. There are likely reasons why we do not see sencha from these regions, including possibly lower quality sencha and/or simply less flavorful product. Or "mellower" product.
I do correspond with Den on occasion since meeting him at the Expo and may ask for his opinion.
Jan 3rd, '09, 11:41
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Location: Floating blissfully in a bowl of Matcha
I have never even heard of Mellow Monk, but am interested. Also interested in hearing what Den might say in response!Chip wrote:I should first mention I never tried Mellow Monk. I have tried Den's Guricha on several occasions. I do correspond with Den on occasion since meeting him at the Expo and may ask for his opinion.
Have a FAB TeaDay Everyone!
I'm a sucker for the words eco friendly even if the tea isn't as good as places like O-cha its good to have as an everyday tea.Chip wrote:MM's is cert. eco friendly farmed in other regions of Japan. There are likely reasons why we do not see sencha from these regions, including possibly lower quality sencha and/or simply less flavorful product. Or "mellower" product.
Den's guricha
So glad to see this post - I just received a bag of guricha from Den's 10 minutes ago! also got organic genmaicha with matcha...anyone had this?
Matchafied Genmai is good.
Oh no, I can't taste any chemicals, and I'm not making a claim that there are too many. What I meant to portray is that I get the feeling, when I drink it, that it has been over-fertilized, or is somehow otherwise artificially flavor-enhanced. Don't get me wrong, I love the stuff!Chip wrote:I am not sure one can make such a claim as over fertilizing based on taste, unless there is a chemical taste which I have not noticed.Wesli wrote:For some reason I feel that Den's has been over-chemically-fertilized, and I don't feel as great drinking it.
just wanted to add my opinion on this tea - absolutely fantastic. I can't believe that I had not tried this till now. I love the green aroma this tea gives off. I agree with others - @ 45 s - it seems a little watery...but a 1 min or 1 min and 15 seconds with a temperature lowered to 170 - thank the lord... 
Welll - I like sencha's but I don't like that astringent taste. As a result I don't like den's zuiko which costs twice as much as this one. This tea has that green vegetal taste without the usual sencha taste. I absolutely love it. I think something similar to this would be Sencha Megami offered by ItoEn.Oni wrote:I don`t trust Mellow Monk, without buying from them, what I read in your review, I think it is bad quality tea, and Dens is better, but as long as I can afford a good sencha, I won`t drink guricha, I think sencha is simply better.