Green Tea Forum

stealth162

I'm a newcomer to tea and have found myself obsessed with learning all about it and where to get the best quality teas. My confusion comes in the sorting out of quality teas. I have many local tea shops that I've priced Gyokuro at. There are a few that seem on par with the prices here at O-Cha and then there are those that sell what they claim is the best for $50-150 USD per ounce. Are these retailers just ripping customers off?

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

I don't know what the nature of these local shops you are referring to are. Generally speaking though, it is my understanding that ordering from a vendor like o-cha based out of Japan will get you higher quality and *fresher* tea than a store on the mainland has any hope to do.

For example, there are some shops in my city that sell Japanese green tea. Personally, I wouldn't think of purchasing it. For starters, it was probably shipped via sea and not air (which effects the freshness in especially Japanese green tea). Secondly, when you shop from o-cha the tea is taken out of cold storage on an as needed basis, put into a refrigerator and shipped out when you order (Shops outside of Japan can not do this). Thirdly, it may not even be from the most recent harvest.

I haven't yet tried any gyokuro from here, but if their sencha is any sign of the quality of their gyokuro, it is probably among the very best.

Chip · Posted: Mar 01, 2007 4:35 am Post subject:

Welcome to the forum Stealth...seems like I have seen your name on another forum.

Fine tea is in a way like fine wine. You can always find a more expensive wine if you want to...but I have to think there is a point of diminishing returns. I do not see how any Gyokuro can be 2-3 times better than the Gyokuro you could find at a quality Japanese tea specialist like O-Cha.

But Ryan is quite right on all points also, so fine tea is not at all like a fine aged wine...simply put, the best fastest handling of tea in order to get it into your hands, the better. I know of no domestic vendors airshipping their tea into the states and then putting it in cold storage til it is sold.
Maybe there are such vendors, I just have not found any yet.

Actually, there is at least one, but it is a subsidiary of a Japanese company and they do not nitro flush their tea, opting for deoxiginators instead. They are not your vendor though since their gyokru is in line with O-Cha pricing.

stealth162 · Posted: Mar 01, 2007 4:35 am Post subject: Is $50-150 and ounce rediculous

Are those prices rediculous? Is any Gyokuro worth $50-150 and ounce?

Chip · Posted: Mar 01, 2007 4:40 am Post subject:

Hi Stealth, since we posted on the exact same minute, you may not have seen last my post.

All things are relative. Eating at a restuarant like Morimotas is very expensive...but I will never forget eating there, even if it was a once in a lifetime experience.

I have no plans on buying gyokuro at those prices though.

stealth162 · Posted: Mar 01, 2007 4:43 am Post subject: Compare

I guess the best way is to compare. I ordered some Gyokuro today from O-cha. When it comes in I'm going take some of it to this tea shop that swears there's is better and that's why it's $50 an ounce. I find it hard to believe and I think it's just a conveinence markup.

lukeauge · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 28 Feb 2007 Posts: 15

In general, I have yet to find a domestic tea shop that actually knows how to serve tea. I've thought about it and it seems like it'd be quite difficult to keep the merchandise fresh. I know one store that did do a good job, but they went out of business coincidentally. However, I doubt it would be better than ordering from Kevin. Frankly, they're just middle-men and if you're not paying for the service, I don't know if you're paying for much. Plus, I have yet to hear about "vintage gyokuros" although they might exist. I've heard of China selling special Pu-Erhs at insane prices because they're aged. I've tried some of them, and they're not that much better.

I'd lean towards a rip-off but ya never know who you'll meet.

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

I am a bit skeptical of this store you speak of that is selling gyokuro at 50 bucks an ounce. Putting a heavy price tag on a tea does not make the tea taste better nor does it increase its quality. It only makes it more expensive to purchase. Alas, you have to trust that vendor you speak of for justifying the high price!

Be careful comparing the two. Make sure if you compare the two that you brew the gyokuro correctly for both of them. Gyokuro is not easy to prepare correctly and takes a bit of focus and attention.

I personally brew my gyokuro the following way. I use one gram per ounce and steep the first infusion for 130 seconds at 140F. Some may prefer to use a little more leaf than that.

I think Chip makes a good point regarding diminishing returns. Even in the event it was better, how much better could it be? With prices like that you would want it truly better and I'm doubtful that would be the case. In fact I'm doubtful it would be better in any way than o-cha's offerings as I've mentioned earlier.

Kevangogh · Forum God Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 926 Location: Japan

There may be a very, very few gyokuro's that could command around $50 per ounce. You would need good connections to get those. Our top of the line runs $46 but that is for 3 ounces. I do have some available to me that are higher quality, but still, even the top of the line does not run $50 per ounce. I'd like to see more details on this...