Japanese Green: Buying for Beginner: Hibiki-an Superior

[beachape]

Hello

I've been drinking lots of Chinese green for many years, but decided it was time to try Japanese green.

I was considering buying the "Superior Tea Tasting Set" from Hibiki-an which has 100g of their Gyokuro Superior, Sencha Superior, and Sencha Fukamushi Superior. I've heard some members say that the superior grades aren't too great. However, I am cost-conscious and drink a lot of tea. Is the hibiki-an "superior" grade something to stay away from?

I don't want to be turned off to Japanese green tea from the beginning, but I also don't want to start with anything too expensive. Sorry to be so picky. I would greatly appreciate your suggestions.

[Wesli]

This is what I recommend to all newcomers to the Nippon leaf...

http://www.denstea.com/index.php?main_p ... th=174_173

I don't recommend Hibiki-an because some people just don't like their tea (I'm one of them), however some people enjoy it.

[Salsero]

Wesli tells the truth. You even get the $3 cost back as a refund on your next order! And Den's is probably the only stateside Japanese tea vendor that carries premo leaf.

[Pentox]

And Den's is probably the only stateside Japanese tea vendor that carries premo leaf.

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[Salsero]

And Den's is probably the only stateside Japanese tea vendor that carries premo leaf.

..............

Oops ... and Lupicia.

[Oni]

If you own a kyusu, try their Fukamushi Super Premium, you cannot go wrong with that, that is simply the best fukamushi I have tasted, and try their gyokuro premium, order these two for the first time, and you will fall in love with japanese tea, and don`t brew gyokuro according to their recomandation, use more leaf and less water, 10 grams for 120 ml, 55 C, 2 minutes, 30 sec, 1 min, 2 min, 3 minutes.

[Chip]

I would NOT recommend the Superior tasting SET from Hibiki-an, the gyokuro superior really turned me off, and it really is not true gyokuro in my mind. The Fukamushi Superior is a good deal. Never had the Sencha Superior.

The Den's $3 deal is hard to beat, and you get to try a few different Japanese teas.

O-Cha has a Daily Sencha that is a nice introduction to sencha for the budget conscious.

[Pentox]

The den's deal is a great starting point imo. Past that though I would stay away from anything that comes in 100g packs for a while. 50g or 2oz packages let you hit up a lot more variety without the commitment to a particular tea.

[Wesli]

And Den's is probably the only stateside Japanese tea vendor that carries premo leaf.

..............

Oops ... and Lupicia.

Don't forget Itoen!

I'm with Chip on gyokuro superior. There's something wrong with it.

My other recommendation is to try an asamushi (light-steamed) sencha and a fukamushi (deep-steamed) sencha. They're both quite different, and carry their own respective fanbases....



*FFGS*

[Space Samurai]

I don't recommend Hibiki-an because some people just don't like their tea (I'm one of them), however some people enjoy it.

I've never had a bad tea from Hibiki, but none of their teas have ever truly excited me. I would sooner order from Den's.

[beachape]

Thanks to everyone who replied.

Which Den's Teas do you recommend I start out with? It seems they have a few grades per type. Are the less expensive grades still good (Like Gyokuro Kin, Sencha Fuka-midori, Fukamushi-Sencha special)?

Also, it seems from your replies that I might want to stay away from hibiki-an's superior grade. What about their Premium Gyokuro or Sencha？Also, are the organics something to stay away from? Sorry to keep asking about hibiki-an, but I like the idea of ordering direct from the farm.

[olivierco]

Premium grades from Hibiki-an are good quality teas, a very good start with Japanese greens.

[stjobs]

The Sencha Superior and Sencha Fukamushi Superior are enjoyable. As you said you drink a lot of tea, I think these would be good. If are concerned about cost, though, gyokuro may not be the best choice.

I would be wary of categorical advice about particular vendors: the preferences of others may not match your own.

[Jack_teachat]

If brewed well both are very pleasant fresh tasting senchas, a good starting point I would say.

[tenuki]

I'll go out on a limb a bit and state that I like the sencha premier from adagio just fine too btw. I wouldn't argue with the Den's sampler either and Dens is pretty much where I get all my japanese greens too (my local Uwijamaya stocks them). Start simple and small, then branch out in the directions you like.