viewtopic.php?p=36208#p36208Victoria wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 1:37 pmOn recommendation, I’ve always used low mineral count water with LongJing, and off-boil water. The flavor profile is very delicate to my taste, and more about mouth feel, so unless my palate is super clean I struggle to taste and really enjoy this tea. Yesterday, a friend recommended I try Anji Baicha that has umami notes, have you tried this tea? I haven’t yet.mbanu wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 1:10 amGave it a go with a bottled mineral water and some shifeng and meijawu longjing. In both cases it transformed the teas into agreeable but somewhat forgettable teas. (With soft water the teas are less agreeable but more memorable.) I think I will be forced to conclude that I just don't really enjoy longing, at least not in the "brew it in a glass, drink off the top" variety. For the remaining stash, I suppose the next step will be to see if teapot brewing will coax it into something more personally enjoyable.mbanu wrote: ↑Sun May 16, 2021 5:43 pmEven though it's young hyson season, I don't have any at the moment. My green tea drinking as of late has mostly been fussing with longjing while wishing I was drinking sencha.One thing I haven't tried but am thinking about is brewing it up with a mineral water. My standard water is fairly soft, so I wonder if maybe a harder water might be the ticket.
What Green Are You Drinking
Miro Tea shop came recommended recently by a tea aficionado in Seattle. The shop is just a few blocks from Floating Leaves in the Ballard district. Seems Seattle has a very active full tea scene
Continuing with O-Cha’s Tsuen‘s Uji Gyokuro Fujitsubo in the morning paired with Yohei Konishi hakudei kyusu, Taisuke Shiraiwa’s undulating sand speckled cup, and a ceramic slab tray made by a local potter. 5.5g/100ml/140f/2.30min
As others start binging on shincha, I made the decision not to get Japanese sencha this season.
And so this is my last japanese sencha session for some time.
And so this is my last japanese sencha session for some time.
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Here is the link to that excellent and affordable Anji Baicha at Mirotea.com. Great umami and balance.
https://mirotea.com/shop/anji-baicha/
https://mirotea.com/shop/anji-baicha/
Why? The shipping costs are a slap in the face.
This one i just finished is the last bit from a 2020 bag of Hojo's zairai.
Truth be told, I do have two bags of 2021 sencha...from taiwan hahaha. Naturally farmed and zairai bushes left over from Japanese occupation.
That argument can be used to justify ordering no tea, or a lot of it to reduce the relative impact of shipping costs Another way to reduce the proportion of your payment going toward to shipping is ordering more expensive tea.
That was my 12-second masterclass on saving money on shipment.

Another option, is doing group orders from Japan to USA, then distributing the packs. We each saved maybe $15-$20 on shipment depending on quantity by doing this.faj wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 6:35 pmThat argument can be used to justify ordering no tea, or a lot of it to reduce the relative impact of shipping costs Another way to reduce the proportion of your payment going toward to shipping is ordering more expensive tea.
That was my 12-second masterclass on saving money on shipment.![]()
faj wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 6:35 pmThat argument can be used to justify ordering no tea, or a lot of it to reduce the relative impact of shipping costs Another way to reduce the proportion of your payment going toward to shipping is ordering more expensive tea.
That was my 12-second masterclass on saving money on shipment.![]()



This is trueVictoria wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 6:40 pmAnother option, is doing group orders from Japan to USA, then distributing the packs. We each saved maybe $15-$20 on shipment depending on quantity by doing this.faj wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 6:35 pmThat argument can be used to justify ordering no tea, or a lot of it to reduce the relative impact of shipping costs Another way to reduce the proportion of your payment going toward to shipping is ordering more expensive tea.
That was my 12-second masterclass on saving money on shipment.![]()

Well, I work hard everyday to earn a living so that I can send money to vendors in exchange for tea. So yes, in a sense, I work for them, but I don't think this is a secret.

Now, my opinion is not for sale, but I would not mind gifts from anonymous benefactors sending over rare teas... Some call them "connoisseurs", I think?

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Apologies if this is too off-topic, but I only recently have been looking at the shipping costs out of Japan. Has this not always been the relative pricing? and if not, is it due primarily to intl. logistics pertaining to the pandemic, or some other reason? Is there an expected "timeline" when shipping costs would be reduced? What were typical shipping costs out of Japan?LeoFox wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 6:26 pmWhy? The shipping costs are a slap in the face.
This one i just finished is the last bit from a 2020 bag of Hojo's zairai.
Truth be told, I do have two bags of 2021 sencha...from taiwan hahaha. Naturally farmed and zairai bushes left over from Japanese occupation.
As debunix mentioned denstea, I have ordered from them in the past and have been generally pleased. Although I don't believe they offer as wide a selection that I would like to explore in Japanese greens.