Hi, all,
Can anyone (Dominic?) recommend a realiable inexpensive source for
Gyokuro. I'd really like to try some; but, it seems that it's really
costly here in the Bay area.
Thanks in advance.
(Drinking a very nice, Yunnan Gold),
Shenoa

Shen wrote:
> Hi, all,
> Can anyone (Dominic?) recommend a realiable inexpensive source for
> Gyokuro. I'd really like to try some; but, it seems that it's really
> costly here in the Bay area.
> Thanks in advance.
> (Drinking a very nice, Yunnan Gold),
> Shenoa

This is a downside to quality green tea, it can be expensive. And here
more than anywhere you get what you pay for (for the most part). At
this time of year it is a little late for Gyokuro. So you are going to
pay top dollar for less than fresh tea. I did find a sample at Adagio
(I normally do not order from them, but for no real particular reason)
for $5 (http://www.adagio.com/green/gyokuro.html)

Upton Tea has some samples too, and I tend to like Upton's:
http://www.uptontea.com/shopcart/cat...&categoryID=33
All around $4-5 for a sample with the upper stuff at $8.

It may be a good idea to do some web searching on green tea and harvest
times, if it is something you want to reallyget into it is helpful to
have the seasons down to get the fresh tea, and not only that to even
get *any* of some rare greens. Most are spoken for before even being
picked, and most westerners have no hope of getting in on that action
without bottomless pocketbooks and connections. With green tea, I tend
to stay in the middle-of-the-road. Often they taste just as good, but
lack a little subtlety, and cost much less and you don't have to be
Yakuza to get your pinkyless hand on it. Bancha, sencha, and some other
mid-grade teas are fine year round to purchase... for me I save Gyokuro
for the freshest of the fresh and is my one splurge item in tea. A gift
once a year. While I always include Gyokuro in my reccomendations, it
is only there because it is so good. And some folks don't watch their
money as closely as I, so I'd be remiss if I left it out. Dragonwell,
Pi Lo Chun, Gyokuro, and a few other select greens will cost a lot,
there is just no way around it. Take your time and lead up to the best,
a sample for $5 will give you a good idea if you want to splurge next
year.

- Dominic

Strange that you mention it as I recently found last year Adagio Gyokuro
in original Adagio tin, but contrary to my expectations it is quite
drinkable. Dominic, hope that you forgive me for thinking that last year
Gyokuro could be quite enjoyable.
Disclaimer: I am no Gyokuro expert.


Dominic T. wrote:
> This is a downside to quality green tea, it can be expensive. And here
> more than anywhere you get what you pay for (for the most part). At
> this time of year it is a little late for Gyokuro. So you are going to
> pay top dollar for less than fresh tea. I did find a sample at Adagio
> (I normally do not order from them, but for no real particular reason)
> for $5 (http://www.adagio.com/green/gyokuro.html)
>
> Upton Tea has some samples too, and I tend to like Upton's:
> http://www.uptontea.com/shopcart/cat...&categoryID=33
> All around $4-5 for a sample with the upper stuff at $8.
>
> It may be a good idea to do some web searching on green tea and harvest
> times, if it is something you want to reallyget into it is helpful to
> have the seasons down to get the fresh tea, and not only that to even
> get *any* of some rare greens. Most are spoken for before even being
> picked, and most westerners have no hope of getting in on that action
> without bottomless pocketbooks and connections. With green tea, I tend
> to stay in the middle-of-the-road. Often they taste just as good, but
> lack a little subtlety, and cost much less and you don't have to be
> Yakuza to get your pinkyless hand on it. Bancha, sencha, and some other
> mid-grade teas are fine year round to purchase... for me I save Gyokuro
> for the freshest of the fresh and is my one splurge item in tea. A gift
> once a year. While I always include Gyokuro in my reccomendations, it
> is only there because it is so good. And some folks don't watch their
> money as closely as I, so I'd be remiss if I left it out. Dragonwell,
> Pi Lo Chun, Gyokuro, and a few other select greens will cost a lot,
> there is just no way around it. Take your time and lead up to the best,
> a sample for $5 will give you a good idea if you want to splurge next
> year.
>
> - Dominic
>

oleg shteynbuk wrote:
> Strange that you mention it as I recently found last year Adagio Gyokuro
> in original Adagio tin, but contrary to my expectations it is quite
> drinkable. Dominic, hope that you forgive me for thinking that last year
> Gyokuro could be quite enjoyable.
> Disclaimer: I am no Gyokuro expert.

Jeez, I really hope I don't come off as some "expert" or as if anyone
would ever need to apologize to *me* for anything. I have lots to learn
and my only "expertise" is knowing what I personally enjoy. I do tons
of stuff "wrong" and don't follow any real scripted conventions. I'm
sure the Gyokuro you have was indeed fine, I drink gyokuro from last
year's harvest (almost 2 years old) and don't apologize for it All I
wanted to make sure is that after I had posted in a few newcomers posts
and mentioned Gyokuro, that none of them went out and bought top-dollar
stuff at this time of year... gyokuro that costs $50-100/lb. is pretty
safe to buy anytime as it will be "good enough" and very easily
enjoyable... but there are some Gyokuro's that tip the scales at
$200-1000/lb. and I just can't see that being worth it when you could
just wait a few months and get it fresh for the same price and be even
happier.

Even a 1/4 lb. of Gyokuro is a lot, and it isn't a tea I drink daily so
it inevitably will pass its prime before it runs out. I normally buy it
in 2oz. increments as I use it. With all this being said, I am no
Gyokuro expert either. I just enjoy it and have been for a few years,
there are many sub-categories of Gyokuro and it can be just as complex
as anything else. Storage in a tin is as good as can be expected and
should still produce a good cup. I actually find it to be a little
excessive and indulgent, so as I said I only splurge once a year on
really good Gyo... I may pick up a lower grade somewhere throughout the
year but that's it. I prefer other greens for daily enjoyment.

- Dominic

I've ordered Gyokuro from www.o-cha.com and thought it was really good.
Dominic or anyone else, any opinions on that place?

Dominic T. wrote:
> oleg shteynbuk wrote:
> > Strange that you mention it as I recently found last year Adagio Gyokuro
> > in original Adagio tin, but contrary to my expectations it is quite
> > drinkable. Dominic, hope that you forgive me for thinking that last year
> > Gyokuro could be quite enjoyable.
> > Disclaimer: I am no Gyokuro expert.
>
> Jeez, I really hope I don't come off as some "expert" or as if anyone
> would ever need to apologize to *me* for anything. I have lots to learn
> and my only "expertise" is knowing what I personally enjoy. I do tons
> of stuff "wrong" and don't follow any real scripted conventions. I'm
> sure the Gyokuro you have was indeed fine, I drink gyokuro from last
> year's harvest (almost 2 years old) and don't apologize for it All I
> wanted to make sure is that after I had posted in a few newcomers posts
> and mentioned Gyokuro, that none of them went out and bought top-dollar
> stuff at this time of year... gyokuro that costs $50-100/lb. is pretty
> safe to buy anytime as it will be "good enough" and very easily
> enjoyable... but there are some Gyokuro's that tip the scales at
> $200-1000/lb. and I just can't see that being worth it when you could
> just wait a few months and get it fresh for the same price and be even
> happier.
>
> Even a 1/4 lb. of Gyokuro is a lot, and it isn't a tea I drink daily so
> it inevitably will pass its prime before it runs out. I normally buy it
> in 2oz. increments as I use it. With all this being said, I am no
> Gyokuro expert either. I just enjoy it and have been for a few years,
> there are many sub-categories of Gyokuro and it can be just as complex
> as anything else. Storage in a tin is as good as can be expected and
> should still produce a good cup. I actually find it to be a little
> excessive and indulgent, so as I said I only splurge once a year on
> really good Gyo... I may pick up a lower grade somewhere throughout the
> year but that's it. I prefer other greens for daily enjoyment.
>
> - Dominic

Alex wrote:
> I've ordered Gyokuro from www.o-cha.com and thought it was really good.
> Dominic or anyone else, any opinions on that place?

It could be good, it works out to about $200/lb.and appears to be very
good quality. They state that they nitrogen pack their greens, and they
are based in Fukushima. I have never ordered from them, in fact I have
never ordered upper-grade Gyokuro online ever. I have some friends and
restaraunt owners who I deal with directly at the beginning of the year
to get some. There have been years when I didn't get any at all due to
demand and auctioning that went to astronomical levels.

Next harvest I plan on buying it online due to some of my connections
drying up and moving away, but I am going to do some hunting to find a
reputable dealer in advance. I'll be happy to share my findings once I
get into it, probably 3 months out. I normally research in winter for
my next year's tea. I'm interested to find out where Upton's gets its
from, and plan on giving them a call... they may be an option. I had
tried samples of each of their three Gyokuro's and I found them all to
be pretty good, the person I spoke with then said that they do sell
fresh stuff but it goes quick.

- Dominic

Actually I know very little about green tea, and I'm sure there are
others around like me, so it would be really helpful if you would just
let me/us know if you find anything good online.

Dominic T. wrote:
> Alex wrote:
> > I've ordered Gyokuro from www.o-cha.com and thought it was really good.
> > Dominic or anyone else, any opinions on that place?
>
> It could be good, it works out to about $200/lb.and appears to be very
> good quality. They state that they nitrogen pack their greens, and they
> are based in Fukushima. I have never ordered from them, in fact I have
> never ordered upper-grade Gyokuro online ever. I have some friends and
> restaraunt owners who I deal with directly at the beginning of the year
> to get some. There have been years when I didn't get any at all due to
> demand and auctioning that went to astronomical levels.
>
> Next harvest I plan on buying it online due to some of my connections
> drying up and moving away, but I am going to do some hunting to find a
> reputable dealer in advance. I'll be happy to share my findings once I
> get into it, probably 3 months out. I normally research in winter for
> my next year's tea. I'm interested to find out where Upton's gets its
> from, and plan on giving them a call... they may be an option. I had
> tried samples of each of their three Gyokuro's and I found them all to
> be pretty good, the person I spoke with then said that they do sell
> fresh stuff but it goes quick.
>
> - Dominic

Alex wrote:
> Actually I know very little about green tea, and I'm sure there are
> others around like me, so it would be really helpful if you would just
> let me/us know if you find anything good online.

It never dawned on me that maybe I am one of the few into green tea and
Japanese greens on this NG... I just assumed others around here knew
more than me. Since I make no bones about not being a "technician" or
very apt to follow "rules" I never try to present myself in any other
way. But when I think about it, I do have 8 years of experience with
green tea and maybe I don't give myself enough credit. It is more that
I am not obsessive about things... so (and no offense is meant) but
folks like Lew and Mike Petro really devote a lot of themselves into
their craft and I don't so in my mind I am not at their level. I still
have to look up names of some Chinese greens, and I couldn't quote the
exact harvest days off the top of my head without an internet search...
but I have experienced some great tea and know enough to know what I
know and what I don't.

I've said it before, but I really tend to stay near the middle-quality
greens. I do this in part because I have tasted super-expensive greens
that didn't wow me, and the one's that do are mostly only subtly better
than the mid grade ones. Some are most certainly worth it. I grew up
pretty poor, and while I do OK now, I still hold to a lot of what I
learned growing up and tend to be frugal... some may say cheap, I say
resourceful and realistic. Some people find buying 1/4 of a lb. of $200
tea to be nothing to even blink at, and I have acquaintences who spend
$2000 a trip on tea... that is an alien world to me and my suggestions
and comments don't come from that angle.

To me I buy the best Gyokuro I can afford in a small quantity once a
year as a present to myself, and I will select two or three other super
expensive teas (an oolong, pu-erh, ec.) as well. Then I search for a
tea that comes as close as possible that is reasonably priced, and
enjoy that daily. So over the years I have learned what is worth it and
what is not, and also what comes close. If that is worthwhile and
helpful to anyone, then great, I'd be happy to help!

Sencha, Gyokuro, Mao Feng, Dragonwell, Pi Lo Chun, Young Hyson, Jasmine
Pearls, White Monkey, Bancha, and my one weakness is for the cheap
yellow/gold tin of Jasmine green tea found in every asian market... I
enjoy it hot, iced, in a shoe, I don't know why because it is harsh and
not refined or special, but when brewed properly it ranks up there on
my own score card.

Upton's has some great lower-priced green tea... but nothing majorly
noteworthy in the expensive stuff.

Numi has some good lose teas, but their boxed tea is too expensive for
what it is.

Itoen has me intrigued and I will try them next, but they seem a bit
high priced, O-Cha which was mentioned today seems good.

And my #1 place where I plan to try everything at in an effort to get
into Chinese greens is teaspring.com. I think they have great prices
and great product. "Tai Ping Hou Kui" is on my next to order.

Hopefully that helps a bit, and I also hope I didn't ramble too much, I
don't claim to be an "expert" just a semi-cheap self-discoverer who
enjoys tea and enjoys the hunt, I just want that out on the table
before people think otherwise.

- Dominic