TeaVivre

[Bok]

By the way, Tillerman, I saw you have a Tsui Feng in your selection, that is the highest point in Shanlinxi, isn’t it? Had that tea last winter, if it is the same, a very nice tea! The one I had was pretty good price wise at that quality level.

[Ethan Kurland]

Of course not, my point was just that cheap roasted is often more drinkable than cheap green! At least that is my experience.

My experience does not equal Bok's; so, I have not made many hard & fast buying policies. I have just kept sampling. Nonetheless, I offer generlizations: for green: there seems to be a correlation between height of the tea farms and quality. Around 1600m high, enough quality seemed to have developed. However, the better tea from 2400m up seems to remain as good 2 weeks after a packet was opened, as on the first day; while the lower height/quality gaoshan begins to lose quality significantly 2 weeks after opened. (Big difference in price though).

A year or so ago, A boazhong somehow deteriorated in the vacuum packets. Initially, it had some pleasant sweetness and a lot of flavor (for a low price). Just 2 months later, it was pleasant & drinkable but not so flavorful and not sweet.

Roasted oolongs" quality was definitely related to price, with medium-priced roasted not being much lower in quality than much more expensive (IMHO).

Did I taste medium to well oxidized oolongs that were not roasted? I cannot remember. Are they available?

[Tillerman]

By the way, Tillerman, I saw you have a Tsui Feng in your selection, that is the highest point in Shanlinxi, isn’t it? Had that tea last winter, if it is the same, a very nice tea! The one I had was pretty good price wise at that quality level.

Tsui Feng (also Cui Feng or Qui Feng) is s separate high mountain area of its own. it is part of the Lishan range and is located between Lishan and Da Yu Ling. It is generally a very good price for the quality level as it is no so well known. The Spring 2017 Cuifeng that I carry is my personal favorite of my '17 spring teas. We'll soon be releasing the Winter '17 Qui Feng (we're trying to use pinyin on everything except people's names and well known place names like Taipei and Taichung.)

[OldWaysTea]

Did I taste medium to well oxidized oolongs that were not roasted? I cannot remember. Are they available?

I have a Wuyi Qilan that has not been roast. If you are in the USA I'll send you a sample.

It’s true that “premium” and “daily” are a matter of taste. I would spend about $15/oz for premium Alishan and will hope to pay $10/oz for a daily one...

I'd also like to point out that $10/oz is $0.35/g; a much more realistic price for decent Taiwanese oolong than the $0.23/g quoted for the TeaVivre product.

[Brent D]

Teavivre is OK. Its what got me into tea because of the great pricing. I used them for a while. Then I got into higher quality teas. IMO you can do better for a few bucks more an OZ.

[Ethan Kurland]

Did I taste medium to well oxidized oolongs that were not roasted? I cannot remember. Are they available?

I have a Wuyi Qilan that has not been roast. If you are in the USA I'll send you a sample.

I like to point out that $10/oz is $0.35/g; a much more realistic price for decent Taiwanese oolong than the $0.23/g quoted for the TeaVivre product.

Oldways, PM sent about the sample. (I'm leaving USA in a few days for 5 weeks....)

$ per gram is the way I used to calculate. I got away from it but should return. I am often using 3 grams to prepare tea. The difference between sessions of average & better teas is often 30 to 45 cents, not a fortune. I sincerely hope people are exploring, not worrying. The forums are great for advice but sampling .... If one is enjoying all but his very worst purchases, he is doing well.

[jason19870313]

Anybody here tried TeaVivre’s high mountains?
They offer spring Ali Shan 100g(3.5 oz) for 23$ I assume it’s not on the highest end but is it ok?
I’m just looking for a new source for daily Alishan, would also be grateful for any leads

The price may be attractive but beware - there is a lot of fake "Alishan" in the market.

Many fake 1

[jason19870313]

Personally, I will always take a Lishan or Shanlinxi over Alishan, but that is my preference.

Thanks Bok.
Well, It doesn’t have to be Alishan. But LiShan is always more expensive and SLX is usually something you only find at specialized vendors whose prices and quality are usually high.
But we can rephrase the Q. Where can I buy daily SLX?

Li shan tea price range in Taiwan.

3200nt to 4200nt per 600 gram.

It is still affordable

[Bok]

Personally, I will always take a Lishan or Shanlinxi over Alishan, but that is my preference.

Thanks Bok.
Well, It doesn’t have to be Alishan. But LiShan is always more expensive and SLX is usually something you only find at specialized vendors whose prices and quality are usually high.
But we can rephrase the Q. Where can I buy daily SLX?

Li shan tea price range in Taiwan.

3200nt to 4200nt per 600 gram.

It is still affordable

In Taiwan. Not likely that any western vendor will offer real Lishan at that price. All the margins need to be added on top...

[Tillerman]

Thanks Bok.
Well, It doesn’t have to be Alishan. But LiShan is always more expensive and SLX is usually something you only find at specialized vendors whose prices and quality are usually high.
But we can rephrase the Q. Where can I buy daily SLX?

Li shan tea price range in Taiwan.

3200nt to 4200nt per 600 gram.

It is still affordable

In Taiwan. Not likely that any western vendor will offer real Lishan at that price. All the margins need to be added on top...

Not likely that many Taiwanese merchants will offer real Lishan at that price! As to the question about SLX, it is available in the west for $20 per 2oz (56g) - and yes, that is shameless self promotion.

[jason19870313]

Thanks Bok.
Well, It doesn’t have to be Alishan. But LiShan is always more expensive and SLX is usually something you only find at specialized vendors whose prices and quality are usually high.
But we can rephrase the Q. Where can I buy daily SLX?

Li shan tea price range in Taiwan.

3200nt to 4200nt per 600 gram.

It is still affordable

In Taiwan. Not likely that any western vendor will offer real Lishan at that price. All the margins need to be added on top...

Yes I buy directly from. Farmer

[jason19870313]

Li shan tea price range in Taiwan.

3200nt to 4200nt per 600 gram.

It is still affordable

In Taiwan. Not likely that any western vendor will offer real Lishan at that price. All the margins need to be added on top...

Not likely that many Taiwanese merchants will offer real Lishan at that price! As to the question about SLX, it is available in the west for $20 per 2oz (56g) - and yes, that is shameless self promotion.

Real li shan tea only few farmers.

[Ethan Kurland]

! As to the question about SLX, it is available in the west for $20 per 2oz (56g) - and yes, that is shameless self promotion.

Don't be ashamed of promoting yourself. The vendors listed here are often ignored. (Recent example is until I noticed, tealifeinhk was not mentioned to someone searching for high-fired TGY. Jay's prices may be on the high side, but he has a wide selection of roasted tea & some are prepared in unique ways of Hong Kong.)
Talking in price per gram, Tillerman, you price your SLX at 35.7+ cents = about 7150 NTD for a Taiwanese jin (600 grams). Not bad at all when one gets his gaoshan delivered in small vacuum-packs & does not need to buy a whole jin & to travel to Taiwan to sample many awful teas to find excellence.
I sell SLX at 32 cents per gram ($16 for 50 grams). With variation in shipping charges policies, we are essentially the same. (We're both good guys )
Back to my obsession: I often mention that one can think about a name too much, e.g., "Alishan" or "Lishan". If one asks a good-guy vendor for what he wants, such as some better gaoshan at a good price (= SLX) or some best gaoshan at a good price (= dayuling or foushoushan), the good guy may be able to provide the quality & affordability that is wanted.

[Bub]

For a couple years now I have been ordering my tea from TeaVivre in China. I've been very happy with them. Today, I tried to go to their website and it appears to be gone. I get a message that the site can't be reached. Can any one tell me what's going on? I have an order coming from them now and I hope it makes it.

If they are actually gone for good, I will be needing a new source. Any recommendations would be truly appreciated. My preferred tea is Dragon Well green.

Thank you

[mbanu]

Maybe they forgot to renew something? Supposedly they registered teavivre.com January 29, 2011, so today is exactly 10 years and two months since then. Have you tried it again?