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Kettl arrival today! First package of the Year of COVID-19 Shincha. Hopefully more to come asap! 20200430_124340.jpg I have 2 pairs ... what do you have? 20200430_124422.jpg Perfect timing as I just emptied a bag of 2019 Kabuse-cha from O-cha just prior to its arrival. I'll open 1 bag ... Mebuki or ...

Like everything else touched by COVID-19, this is a fluid situation as I share what I can from one vendor who I have dealt with since ... hmmm ... around 2003. For Kevin at O-cha, this has been a rollercoaster ride. He is doing his utmost best to bring ... deliver Shincha as he has done for 21 years...

S_B, no problema ...

I was just allowing readers to figure that part out ... 😉 Did I just voluntarily lose my edge up here? :lol: Maybe ... I remember an incident on TC years ago where a member was discussing on the IM a limited "buy now" one-off Korean teaware item offering. Another member ... just so happened to buy ...

He told me no newsletter, no preorder ... when he has it, he will post it. Should be Friday. Very small window to potentially beat the weekend - no shipping and Golden Week (May 3-6) - again no shipping. Sooo ... "When he posts it, will they come ... " Tea Field of Dreams 2020 :mrgreen: Not trying ...

"Just say that we’re going to start shipping those three teas on Friday by FedEx to the USA." Thanks a lot for keeping us informed Chip. Do you have an idea when their website will be updated to accept orders for schincha? He told me no newsletter, no preorder ... when he has it, he will post it. S...

Just discussing with Kevin ... "Just say that we’re going to start shipping those three teas on Friday by FedEx to the USA. And that the SM is especially good. Because it is." 3 teas being SM, YM, & Chiran improved. Shipping is simply going to be different from Japan this year. My least fave express...

Kettl package is now in PA Dutch Country ... Lancaster. One county over, so hoping for delivery tomorrow.

Watching O-cha closely.

Finally Kevin has things worked out with Fedex and negotiated best rate possible.

I am relieved that he is not using DHL whose service has been horrid in good times.

He expects to have Shincha in hand and ready to roll in a day or two!

I grabbed a bag of Mebuki from Kettl. I had Chiran last year and it was REALLY good. Trying not to over-order this year so I figure one bag of the new stuff. Nice! I'm curious if Kettl actually has their Shincha in hand stateside yet. I placed an order last week too but haven't seen anything ship. ...

Kevin from O-cha just messaged me that it appears he has alternate shipping arrangements! :mrgreen: woohoo! I eagerly await the email updates :D I may have spoken too soon in my enthusiastic optimism. As I mentioned in the Japan Post topic, Kevin ran into a major problem w/ best alternate Yamato/UP...

Kevin from O-cha ran into a wall with Yamato/UPS. They will not accept food items bound for the USA ... including tea. Too much FDA paperwork. Reading the The du Japon email newsletter, seems like they are shipping to only a few countries with Yamato/UPS. Things seem to be seizing up. DHL really suc...

Having said that, at least some tea vendors in Japan are scrambling to find alternatives.

Kevin from O-cha just sent me a message indicating Yamato/UPS, "this will work." I am awaiting further confirmation.

My understanding is that there are very few commercial flights from Japan to the US. Japan Post utilizes available cargo space on these flights. This has been escalating for weeks. Most non EMS express packages have been put aside, and EMS packages were given top priority. Perhaps something else hap...

Kevin from O-cha just messaged me that it appears he has alternate shipping arrangements!