Green Tea Forum

roomi · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 1

Ok I'm still somewhat of a noob when it comes to green tea so forgive me if this sounds like a basic question. After starting off drinking bagged tea for quite some time, I recently decided to take the plunge and buy me some real loose-leaf tea. So for the past few months I've been drinking Rishi brand sencha but I have to say I'm not all that impressed. The flavor of the tea is rather flat and the 2nd infusion tends to come out slightly bitter. For the hefty price ($13.98 for 2.5 oz), it doesn't taste nearly as good as the bagged sencha that sells for $2.49 at Trader Joe's. I've bought a teapot and taken the time to learn how to properly brew green tea so I'm pretty sure its not me. Just as I was beginning to develop an aversion to sencha, it occurred to me that maybe its the brand of secha I was using. I've seen lots of good review for the O-Cha daily sencha which I'm tempted to try but I want to know how it compares to the sencha I'm currently drinking. I don't want to buy it if it tastes like the Rishi. Has anyone here who's tasted both brands comment on which one is better and why? Thanks.

Photiou · Posted: Sep 24, 2007 1:12 am Post subject:

Only way to know if you like it is to try it.

(I think you should try few vendors to know better what is available and at what price (that is what I am doing currently) - there is much variance in taste&look of different senchas.)

Chip · Posted: Sep 24, 2007 1:55 am Post subject:

Yo, roomi, wassup? Welcome to the forum.

You should definately try O-Cha. Your story sounds similar to mine in that I was just about ready to give up on sencha altogether do to frustration with quality issues of my then current domestic vendors.

What I learned is that probably all domestic vendors do not source or handle their inventory in the same manner as a vendor such as O-Cha.

O-cha, for instance, only stocks a minimum amount of fully processed sencha. They then cold store their entire inventory. Their inventory has been properly packaged, and then they air ship it direct to your door from Japan, very cool.

They also have some incredible sencha such as Miyabi...the Hatsumi is really great this year. Otsuusan is not my fav, but is very full flavored and a lot of posters have a great fondnes for it.

I used to drink Chinese tea 80-90% of the time, I now drink Japanese tea 80-90% of the time.

I confess I have never tried Rishi, though.

spacesamurai · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 204

My experience with Japanese tea is somewhat limited, but in that experience, Rishi's teas have been just as fresh as what I've had shipped to me direct from the grower in Japan. But its always good to experiment.

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

Roomi, also, make sure you're using enough sencha! And not using water too hot.

Kevangogh · Forum God Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 927 Location: Japan

Try this one: Kabusecha Green Tea, a pretty good tea for the money. Unless of course you decide to splurge....

Chip · Posted: Sep 24, 2007 11:51 am Post subject:

Ed · Posted: Sep 24, 2007 12:08 pm Post subject:

roomi, I'd recommend something other than the Daily Sencha. The Daily Sencha is very fresh and it's good tea for the price, but it's second-harvest and that makes a HUGE difference. First-harvest sencha has a much cleaner taste. I'd recommend Yutaka Midori, or better yet - the Fukamushi if you like extra flavor. Good Fukamushi is never flat.

wehayley · Posted: Sep 29, 2007 1:09 pm Post subject:

I've tried O-Cha's daily sncha and fully enjoyed it. It wasn't quite so "green" in taste, which was fine with me. I highly recommend it...

spacesamurai · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 204

I've had them both now, having recieved some hatsumi earlier this week, and while I do not have any sencha from Rishi for a side by side comparison, I didn't notice any real difference between the two.

spacesamurai · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 204

Okay, Chip gave me some pointers on brewing the Hatsumi, and its pretty freaking good. I definitely reccomend trying some.

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

Space, this is a classic example of how altering ones parameters / brewing method can drastically change the final product...

This should be kept in mind for all who sip the sacred brew we call tea... Me as well.

Chip · Posted: Oct 10, 2007 11:15 pm Post subject:

amanojakumo · White Belt Joined: 05 Oct 2007 Posts: 24