Search found 81 matches

by joelbct
Sat Oct 17, 2020 10:57 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: DARJEELING FIRST FLUSH 2019
Replies: 13
Views: 8910

Re: DARJEELING FIRST FLUSH 2019

Vahdam is my go-to, in years past they've had lots of special SKU's of early spring "EX" Darjeeling, in the $20-50/100g USD range, and they have offered sample sizes. Also they have had high quality muscatel Second Flush, and good Autumnal. It looks like they are currently sold out of the sought-aft...
by joelbct
Fri Oct 16, 2020 6:31 pm
Forum: Oolong Tea
Topic: What Oolong Are You Drinking
Replies: 2779
Views: 1514317

Re: What Oolong Are You Drinking

Drinking teaspring's Wu Yi Shui Xian. It's good, full and quite minerally, just a tad smokey.
by joelbct
Fri Oct 16, 2020 3:45 pm
Forum: White Tea
Topic: White Tea & Britney Spears?
Replies: 9
Views: 7019

Re: White Tea & Britney Spears?

There was a scene in Ocean's 12 or 13 where Eddie Izzard's character kind of randomly orders sencha, states that this means "Japanese Green Tea," and very specifically instructs the waiter on the proper brewing temperature, in a pedantic, haughty yet cheeky manner. Fun. I think I've watched all the...
by joelbct
Fri Oct 16, 2020 3:41 pm
Forum: Black Tea
Topic: Loose tea vs bagged tea and where bagged teas may go wrong
Replies: 20
Views: 10581

Re: Loose tea vs bagged tea and where bagged teas may go wrong

Bagged teas may go wrong by being bagged teas. ;) I'm still relatively new to all this, but I've had some bagged tea that easily outclassed loose teas. Of course the price difference was likely a big factor so It all depends on what you buy. Well, much loose leaf tea is mediocre as well ;) My point...
by joelbct
Fri Oct 16, 2020 3:37 pm
Forum: Oolong Tea
Topic: What Oolong Are You Drinking
Replies: 2779
Views: 1514317

Re: What Oolong Are You Drinking

My daily teas are $10 to $20/100g. Over $20/100g starts getting expensive for me, over $50 I generally won't buy. This is very much where I stand. I just discovered there's a nice tea shop with a good selection and very reasonable prices not far from me. I may just make take a ride into town over t...
by joelbct
Fri Oct 16, 2020 2:13 pm
Forum: Oolong Tea
Topic: What Oolong Are You Drinking
Replies: 2779
Views: 1514317

Re: What Oolong Are You Drinking

My question is: How much improvement should I expect with higher priced (still affordable for someone on a modest income) teas $20/3.5 oz bag? It depends on one's palate and bank balance. My daily teas are $10 to $20/100g. Over $20/100g starts getting expensive for me, over $50 I generally won't bu...
by joelbct
Thu Oct 15, 2020 6:49 pm
Forum: Oolong Tea
Topic: What Oolong Are You Drinking
Replies: 2779
Views: 1514317

Re: What Oolong Are You Drinking

Having teaspring's Da Hong Pao.

Was worried my order was lost, but it arrived today, thankfully. 5 weeks with standard shipping, not too bad given the circumstances.
by joelbct
Thu Oct 15, 2020 12:37 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Shipping delays from China?
Replies: 23
Views: 8970

Re: Shipping delays from China?

Woot, my teaspring order arrived today.

Not that terrible actually, given the circumstances. 5 weeks from order to delivery, with standard shipping.
by joelbct
Sun Oct 11, 2020 9:03 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Shipping delays from China?
Replies: 23
Views: 8970

Re: Shipping delays from China?

Ippodo is also shipping from a US distribution center. But with higher prices than their Kyoto shop website, iirc. O-cha order arrived via Fedex from Japan to New York in 4 business days. I'll probably use Ippodo again next time I re-up on Sencha. Variety is the spice of life. Decisions... I didn’t...
by joelbct
Fri Oct 09, 2020 2:05 pm
Forum: White Tea
Topic: White Tea & Britney Spears?
Replies: 9
Views: 7019

Re: White Tea & Britney Spears?

Thankfully the celebs either don’t talk about it, or more likely, don’t drink fine loose leaf tea. There was a scene in Ocean's 12 or 13 where Eddie Izzard's character kind of randomly orders sencha, states that this means "Japanese Green Tea," and very specifically instructs the waiter on the prop...
by joelbct
Fri Oct 09, 2020 2:00 pm
Forum: Black Tea
Topic: Loose tea vs bagged tea and where bagged teas may go wrong
Replies: 20
Views: 10581

Re: Loose tea vs bagged tea and where bagged teas may go wrong

Bagged teas may go wrong by being bagged teas. ;)
by joelbct
Fri Oct 09, 2020 1:47 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Shipping delays from China?
Replies: 23
Views: 8970

Re: Shipping delays from China?

Ippodo is also shipping from a US distribution center. But with higher prices than their Kyoto shop website, iirc. O-cha order arrived via Fedex from Japan to New York in 4 business days. I'll probably use Ippodo again next time I re-up on Sencha. Variety is the spice of life. Although with having ...
by joelbct
Mon Oct 05, 2020 9:03 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Shipping delays from China?
Replies: 23
Views: 8970

Re: Shipping delays from China?

Yeah, nothing on that 17 site or other tracking sites.

I just placed an order from O-cha, and they are only offering FedEx shipping to the US, so I guess this is a known thing in Japan too.

Ippodo also had a similar message, saying they are only shipping DHL.
by joelbct
Sun Oct 04, 2020 6:25 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Shipping delays from China?
Replies: 23
Views: 8970

Re: Shipping delays from China?

Yeah I'm not trying to do a charge back if it's not their fault. It's just, the order was in 'checking stock" status for a week, then still hasn't even shown up in EMS/China Post tracking aside from saying 'label created.' it's not like it's saying stuck in Shanghai or anything. But, I've used them ...
by joelbct
Sat Oct 03, 2020 12:58 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Shipping delays from China?
Replies: 23
Views: 8970

Re: Shipping delays from China?

That has been discussed also on Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/tea/comments/hei331/do_you_have_an_order_of_tea_coming_in_from_china/ I've avoided r/tea since all the astroturfing drama of 2017. But thanks. I wonder how long I should wait before I ask the vendor to file a claim, if they can even d...