With only a month coming up til Xmas, I was wondering if everyone would
like to share particular tea items that they think would make lovely
gifts for tea lovers. This can include any sort of tea-ware or tea. I
will start.

I am buying this tea-table for one of my friends:

http://www.rishitea.com/store/produc...&cat=14&page=1

Also, I am thinking about buying this temoku from teaspring for
another:

http://www.teaspring.com/Tenmoku-I.asp

along with this Japananese Matcha Wisk

http://www.uptontea.com/shopcart/ite...categoryID=150

Can anyone point me in the direction of good quality matcha?

What are you buying for your tea lovers this year?

"kid_kei" > wrote:
> With only a month coming up til Xmas, I was wondering if everyone would
> like to share particular tea items that they think would make lovely
> gifts for tea lovers. This can include any sort of tea-ware or tea. I
> will start.
>
> I am buying this tea-table for one of my friends:
>
> http://www.rishitea.com/store/produc...&cat=14&page=1
>
> Also, I am thinking about buying this temoku from teaspring for
> another:
>
> http://www.teaspring.com/Tenmoku-I.asp
>
> along with this Japananese Matcha Wisk
>
> http://www.uptontea.com/shopcart/ite...itemID=AJ08&be
> gin=0&parent=Accessories%3ETeaware%3ETea+Ceremony& category=Tea+Ceremony&s
> ortMethod=0&categoryID=150
>
> Can anyone point me in the direction of good quality matcha?
>
> What are you buying for your tea lovers this year?

Very thoughtful gifts. I especially like the Tea Table.

I buy my Matcha in Little Tokyo at
Mitsuwa Marketplace
333 S. Alameda St.,
Los Angeles, CA

I have nothing to compare it to, but my daughter and I like it.

Happy Holidays!

--
Nick. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families!

Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not forgotten. Thanks ! ! !
~Semper Fi~

>Can anyone point me in the direction of good quality matcha?

I like to get mine straight from Japan, if nothing else it is more
poetic and the prices are often better.

http://www.ippodo-tea.co.jp/english/
http://www.hibiki-an.com/default.php
http://www.o-cha.com/
http://www.maeda-en.com/store/index.cgi
https://www.maikotea.com/


>What are you buying for your tea lovers this year?

Aged Puerh

--
Mike Petro
http://www.pu-erh.net

> Can anyone point me in the direction of good quality matcha?

I'd check with Upton's. I believe they sell a matcha, but methinks it
is rather expensive. If you have any Chinatowns in your area, I'd take
a gander there.

> What are you buying for your tea lovers this year?

Hardly anyone drinks tea in my family, save my fiancee who drinks the
oolongs which I consume (usually with loads of sweetner). She loves
Genmaicha, so I'll probably get her a caddy of that. I'm asking for a
nice Se Chung, or if I'm a very good little boy, I'll find some
Buddha's Palm in my stocking.

-Mike

kid_kei wrote:
> Can anyone point me in the direction of good quality matcha?
>
> What are you buying for your tea lovers this year?

Itoen, Uji, o-cha, hibiki-an or Rishi would be good choices for
Matcha... however can I ask if you have ever tried it? There are
generally two types of Matcha, a thicker one and a thinner one. I
prefer the thinner one myself, and even though I am a large green tea
fan I'm not much for matcha to actually drink. I find it to be more of
a ceremonial thing than an enjoyment.

You can find a number of nice greens (senchas and gyokuro's) that have
green tea powder (matcha) mixed in that produce an enjoyable cup of
tea.

- Dominic

Mike Fulton > wrote:
>
>> Can anyone point me in the direction of good quality matcha?
>
>I'd check with Upton's. I believe they sell a matcha, but methinks it
>is rather expensive. If you have any Chinatowns in your area, I'd take
>a gander there.

Matcha is not something people normally drink, really... it's something
that doesn't get used for much other than the tea ceremony and for making
ice cream.

I use it for making ice cream, and I buy the packaged stuff from Upton's,
which seems pretty good if expensive. If you have a specifically-Japanese
grocery in a local Japantown you may be able to find the stuff, but
typical Chinese groceries aren't going to carry it.

I have bought Matcha also at Tokyo Market in Montreal, and at the
Japanese market ("Kunikuniya?") in Seattle. Arakawa's in Honolulu
also used to carry it. All of these taste a little bit different... the
stuff from Upton's seems a bit more flowery and works better in ice
cream than the others I have tried. Maybe it was just fresher, I don't
know.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

wow, scott, you've been all over the globe...where are you situated now?
just curious!
dp

"Scott Dorsey" > wrote in message
...
> Mike Fulton > wrote:
>>
>>> Can anyone point me in the direction of good quality matcha?
>>
>>I'd check with Upton's. I believe they sell a matcha, but methinks it
>>is rather expensive. If you have any Chinatowns in your area, I'd take
>>a gander there.
>
> Matcha is not something people normally drink, really... it's something
> that doesn't get used for much other than the tea ceremony and for making
> ice cream.
>
> I use it for making ice cream, and I buy the packaged stuff from Upton's,
> which seems pretty good if expensive. If you have a specifically-Japanese
> grocery in a local Japantown you may be able to find the stuff, but
> typical Chinese groceries aren't going to carry it.
>
> I have bought Matcha also at Tokyo Market in Montreal, and at the
> Japanese market ("Kunikuniya?") in Seattle. Arakawa's in Honolulu
> also used to carry it. All of these taste a little bit different... the
> stuff from Upton's seems a bit more flowery and works better in ice
> cream than the others I have tried. Maybe it was just fresher, I don't
> know.
> --scott
>
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

"Scott Dorsey" > wrote in message
...
> Mike Fulton > wrote:
>>
>>> Can anyone point me in the direction of good quality matcha?
>>


snip


> I have bought Matcha also at Tokyo Market in Montreal, and at the
> Japanese market ("Kunikuniya?") in Seattle. Arakawa's in Honolulu
> also used to carry it. All of these taste a little bit different... the
> stuff from Upton's seems a bit more flowery and works better in ice
> cream than the others I have tried. Maybe it was just fresher, I don't
> know.
> --scott
>
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis


The place in Seattle is Uwajimaya. Close though! I haven't tried matcha
yet really, the closest I've come are those little individual powdered green
tea packets from Upton. Uwajimaya's doesn't look any less expensive than
anybody else's though. They do have several (I think I remember three)
grades. Generally they seem to carry the normal tea brands one would find in
the market, not a brand specific to their store.

Melinda

Darawen Littlestich > wrote:
>wow, scott, you've been all over the globe...where are you situated now?

Right now I am in the St. Louis airport but I am _supposed_ to be in my
office in Virginia.

However, I do have a travel mug of Upton's Panyong Congou so it's not all
bad.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Melinda > wrote:
>
>The place in Seattle is Uwajimaya. Close though! I haven't tried matcha
>yet really, the closest I've come are those little individual powdered green
>tea packets from Upton.

Okay, Upton's has first of all a real matcha, which comes in a little black
cardboard tin. They call it "Matcha Kumonosiro" and since I can't read
kana, I assume that's what it says on the tin.

Upton's also has, in the little packets, something called "Kabuse powder."
It's also a ground-up gyokuro tea, and it's a lot like matcha. That's the
stuff that comes in the little packets. I found it less floral and more
grassy-flavoured than the matcha kumonosiro. It didn't make as good ice
cream in my opinion, but it was a lot less expensive.

>Uwajimaya's doesn't look any less expensive than
>anybody else's though. They do have several (I think I remember three)
>grades. Generally they seem to carry the normal tea brands one would find in
>the market, not a brand specific to their store.

Are they all in tins or is there some possibility of smelling before you
buy?
--scott

Oh, yes, the stuff I got in Montreal was called "Matcha Matutoyo" for
whatever that is worth, and it was also less floral and less 'sweet' than
the matcha kumonosiro from Upton's. But it could have been stale too.
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Melinda,

Remember the ButterFly brand of TGY you mentioned which was bushy? I
looked and looked and couldn't find it. On my last trip to Chinatown I
found the FL115 Butterfly brand of TGY in the 125g red tin:

http://tinyurl.com/y95pr5

The one you mentioned was the 250g FL111 Top Grade:

http://tinyurl.com/wl6pk

This one was enough to choke a pot. It had some broken leaf. The
whole leaf was single and not attached with others to a stem. It was
the Qing Xiang style or lightly roasted. At $4 it was a bargain.

Jim

PS I also found some YinHao green tea which actually looked green. It
wasn't Jasmine flavored. It was small rolled leaf with plenty of white
tip. It was a ripoff at $6 for a 500g tin. For those interested in in
ergonometrics the inner lid which was plastic had a foil mated liner
which provided an airtight seal. The tea never touches the plastic.


Melinda wrote:
> Melinda

I have found hibiki-an and Gray and Seddon to be exceptionally high
quality vendors, although Gray and Seddon had some shipping problems
with ceramicware last year. There is also www.zencha.net which has
terrific pottery items and www.shizuokotea.net.

There are also some great ebay vendors who can get you tea from Japan,
and are happy to answer questions. I've had great experiences with a
vendor called magokorodo, and there are two english-speakers who are
terrific: The Old Tokaido, I think his name is Mike; and Ralph of The
Japan Store. I got such wonderfully high quality ceramics from both,
three sets of yunomi and two shudei kyusu from Mike (gifts) and a
lovely shudei kyusu from Ralph, really exceptional, they hand-carved a
calligraphy 'love' on the pot for my birthday. They are both experts
on Western tastebuds and matcha tea as well.

Good luck!

kid_kei wrote:
> With only a month coming up til Xmas, I was wondering if everyone would
> like to share particular tea items that they think would make lovely
> gifts for tea lovers. This can include any sort of tea-ware or tea. I
> will start.
>
> I am buying this tea-table for one of my friends:
>
> http://www.rishitea.com/store/produc...&cat=14&page=1
>
> Also, I am thinking about buying this temoku from teaspring for
> another:
>
> http://www.teaspring.com/Tenmoku-I.asp
>
> along with this Japananese Matcha Wisk
>
> http://www.uptontea.com/shopcart/ite...categoryID=150
>
> Can anyone point me in the direction of good quality matcha?
>
> What are you buying for your tea lovers this year?

There are some great gifts for tea lovers at
www.quartermoonteas.com...they have some very unique flavors of
tea....give them a try - you won't regret it!


Danica wrote:
> I have found hibiki-an and Gray and Seddon to be exceptionally high
> quality vendors, although Gray and Seddon had some shipping problems
> with ceramicware last year. There is also www.zencha.net which has
> terrific pottery items and www.shizuokotea.net.
>
> There are also some great ebay vendors who can get you tea from Japan,
> and are happy to answer questions. I've had great experiences with a
> vendor called magokorodo, and there are two english-speakers who are
> terrific: The Old Tokaido, I think his name is Mike; and Ralph of The
> Japan Store. I got such wonderfully high quality ceramics from both,
> three sets of yunomi and two shudei kyusu from Mike (gifts) and a
> lovely shudei kyusu from Ralph, really exceptional, they hand-carved a
> calligraphy 'love' on the pot for my birthday. They are both experts
> on Western tastebuds and matcha tea as well.
>
> Good luck!
>
> kid_kei wrote:
> > With only a month coming up til Xmas, I was wondering if everyone would
> > like to share particular tea items that they think would make lovely
> > gifts for tea lovers. This can include any sort of tea-ware or tea. I
> > will start.
> >
> > I am buying this tea-table for one of my friends:
> >
> > http://www.rishitea.com/store/produc...&cat=14&page=1
> >
> > Also, I am thinking about buying this temoku from teaspring for
> > another:
> >
> > http://www.teaspring.com/Tenmoku-I.asp
> >
> > along with this Japananese Matcha Wisk
> >
> > http://www.uptontea.com/shopcart/ite...categoryID=150
> >
> > Can anyone point me in the direction of good quality matcha?
> >
> > What are you buying for your tea lovers this year?

"Scott Dorsey" > wrote in message
...

>
> Upton's also has, in the little packets, something called "Kabuse powder."
> It's also a ground-up gyokuro tea, and it's a lot like matcha. That's the
> stuff that comes in the little packets. I found it less floral and more
> grassy-flavoured than the matcha kumonosiro. It didn't make as good ice
> cream in my opinion, but it was a lot less expensive.


Ah, I haven't done the green tea ice cream. I have an ice cream maker
though, I should try it. Is yours comparable/significantly better than the
commercial brand that are carried by some Asian stores? Can't remember the
brand name.
>
> Are they all in tins or is there some possibility of smelling before you
> buy?


No, they're all in tins. The Kabuse powder was very convenient and seemed to
bled with the water readily,I have to say that. But it seemed too expensive
for what I was looking for which was something for the health benefit of it.
As an aside, I find it odd that I prefer hard martial arts like karate to
the softer ones like Tai Chio r aikido, but I prefer the Chinese tea
"ceremony" to the Japanese one. I think the Japanese one feels out of my
reach to begin since one really needs a master teacher to learn it and it's
so much more formal. But that impacts my purchase or non-purchase of
powdered green teas I think. I don't buy matcha because then I'd need a
whisk etc. etc. My mindset is probably leading me to miss out on something.

> Oh, yes, the stuff I got in Montreal was called "Matcha Matutoyo" for
> whatever that is worth, and it was also less floral and less 'sweet' than
> the matcha kumonosiro from Upton's. But it could have been stale too.
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Melinda

"Space Cowboy" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Melinda,
>
> Remember the ButterFly brand of TGY you mentioned which was bushy? I
> looked and looked and couldn't find it. On my last trip to Chinatown I
> found the FL115 Butterfly brand of TGY in the 125g red tin:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/y95pr5
>
> The one you mentioned was the 250g FL111 Top Grade:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/wl6pk
>
> This one was enough to choke a pot. It had some broken leaf. The
> whole leaf was single and not attached with others to a stem. It was
> the Qing Xiang style or lightly roasted. At $4 it was a bargain.
>
> Jim
>
> PS I also found some YinHao green tea which actually looked green. It
> wasn't Jasmine flavored. It was small rolled leaf with plenty of white
> tip. It was a ripoff at $6 for a 500g tin. For those interested in in
> ergonometrics the inner lid which was plastic had a foil mated liner
> which provided an airtight seal. The tea never touches the plastic.
>


Wow, $4 is really good. I haven't seen those tins but I will keep an eye out
Jim, thanks. And the green sounds good too. I bought some of the standard
jasmine from one of the places I usually go, it was the type that is in
those bright metallic blue or green 150 gram cylindrical tins with the
cranes on them. I don't usually buy jasmine so this was just something to
fill in that gap, but it is pretty...I want to say chemically but I don't
actually MEAN adulterated with chemicals, I mean the jasmine taste is very
bright and sharp, not necessarily overwhelmingly strong. That was just the
first time I've brewed it though, and I very well may have used too much tea
or too hot water and also I am not used to flavored teas since I don't
usually get them and it stands out to my palette and nose because of that.
It's not unpleasant...just more than I'm used to I think. I didn't notice
any blossoms among the tea yet. The tins are gorgeous. Have you tried any of
that keemun (I think they spell it Qimen) tea in the reddish or reddish
brown square tins that are similar to the standard yellow jasmine tins?

There's an assam in the Indian section pre-flavored with cardamom that I
have been considering trying. I'm not yet ready to buy it though.
Melinda

Melinda > wrote:
>"Scott Dorsey" > wrote in message
...
>
>> Upton's also has, in the little packets, something called "Kabuse powder."
>> It's also a ground-up gyokuro tea, and it's a lot like matcha. That's the
>> stuff that comes in the little packets. I found it less floral and more
>> grassy-flavoured than the matcha kumonosiro. It didn't make as good ice
>> cream in my opinion, but it was a lot less expensive.
>
>Ah, I haven't done the green tea ice cream. I have an ice cream maker
>though, I should try it. Is yours comparable/significantly better than the
>commercial brand that are carried by some Asian stores? Can't remember the
>brand name.

Mine is orders of magnitudes better. You get one pint of heavy cream,
and you add about three tablespoons of the powder, then some sugar.
Mix carefully, so all the powder is distributed and it's not lumpy.
Taste it. Add more sugar until it's just a little bit sweeter than you
want, because when it's frozen you won't be able to taste the sweetness
as much. If you can't taste both the bitterness and the floweriness of
the tea, add more tea powder. When it freezes, you'll taste more of the
tea and less of the sugar. Use a whisk to break up all the lumps of tea.

Then, take the mix and put it into the ice cream freezer. Freeze and eat.

>No, they're all in tins. The Kabuse powder was very convenient and seemed to
>bled with the water readily,I have to say that. But it seemed too expensive
>for what I was looking for which was something for the health benefit of it.

If you want the health benefit, buy some cheap Temple of Heaven gunpowder
and use that. It'll be just as healthy, I suspect. Except for the pesticide
residues...
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

There were some other Butterfly brands I didn't pick up. I think Qimen
was one of them. I know this tea is graded so if anyone knows a good
commercial brand in Chinatown please let us both know. Cardamom is a
popular flavor in the Arabic brands which are Ceylon based.

Jim

Melinda wrote:
> "Space Cowboy" > wrote in message
> ups.com...
> > Melinda,
> >
> > Remember the ButterFly brand of TGY you mentioned which was bushy?
....I delete me and some of you...
> Have you tried any of
> that keemun (I think they spell it Qimen) tea in the reddish or reddish
> brown square tins that are similar to the standard yellow jasmine tins?
>
> There's an assam in the Indian section pre-flavored with cardamom that I
> have been considering trying. I'm not yet ready to buy it though.
> Melinda