guiseppewv

Any suggestions on good brands of green tea? I got spoiled while I was in Japan and I haven't had any luck finding a really good brand of green tea. I am not into the flavored green teas (e.g. mint green tea, citrus green tea, etc....). I would prefer a standard ocha/sencha.

Thanks in advance!

Airencracken

There are three places I get the majority of my tea.

1) My local Little Tokyo/Chinatown
2) The Tao of Tea
3) Chado Tea

Since option one won't really help you, try options two and three. Both have a good selection of tea and good tea. Although I must say I didn't care for the Matcha from The Tao of Tea.

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guiseppewv

Thanks! I will check them out! I appreciate the recos.

Airencracken

No problem. Are you interested in mostly Japanese green teas? Or do you want some Chinese greens as well? I have a few kinds that I'm fond of, though to be honest, I'm more of an Oolong and Pu-erh drinker.

I particularly like The Tao of Tea's Genmaicha.

guiseppewv

I prefer the Japanese greens only because that is what I got used to drinking. With that being said I am always up for trying new foods/drinks. Thanks!

attgig

I actually like kirkland green tea that I find in costco. it's imported from Japan.

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Airencracken

It's made by Ito En a Japanese company that markets it's bottled teas here as "Tea's Tea".

It's alright for bagged tea, but nothing comes close to loose leaf for taste.

Those reviews are funny, by the sound of it, many of them aren't brewing green tea properly. Most lower grade green should be brewed at about 170-175 degrees Fahrenheit, a good sencha should be brewed around 160. (varies with the specific tea naturally.)

guiseppewv

AC and ATT - Do you normally prefer matcha or sencha?

When I was in Japan most places did not serve matcha.

Ito En's oi ocha is not very good. It is marketed as the mos tpopular green tea drink in Japan but I did not like it at all. It is available literally everywhere in Japan and in just about every beverage vending machine.

ShawnLee

I feel weird, being the Korean-American guy (who is currently in Korea) asking folks back stateside why they like green tea, but why green tea?

Me, I prefer Earl Grey - sure I first tried it because I'm a fan of Picard, but really, it's my base tea. Black with a hint of bergamot? Brilliant.

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Airencracken

I tend to drink more sencha than matcha. Gyokuro is quite good, but also expensive. I often drink genmaicha as well. Ito En's oi ocha is pretty bleh, agreed. Pocari sweat on the other hand is delicious. CC lemon too.


SL, I cannot stand Earl Grey. I hate the stuff, it tastes like someone dumped perfume in my tea. Blech. I like green, but as I stated above, I mostly drink Oolong and Pu-erh.

guiseppewv

I drink just about any tea as long as it doesn't have fruity or minty flavors mixed in (e.g. NO to apple-cinnamon, yes to oolong, NO to peppermint, yes to darjeeling). I think Earl Grey is a decent tea, however, green tea is my fav. I have always liked green tea since I started drinking it at sushi restaurants and at my old job (Tazo's green tea version). I don't really care for coffee, unless I am using it for the caffeine, and the tea was free at my old job. Then after being in Japan for a while I began to like it even more. I think it has a much cleaner flavor compared to other teas if it is of decent quality and prepared properly.

As if I needed to say this with my handle, I am not Asian at all but I like to think that if I was going to choose to be of a different ethnic background than I am (Italian), I would probably choose to be Asian.



With the exception of its name, Pocari Sweat is good. So is CC lemon. They were probably my top two vending machine drinks while in Japan.

zenbooty

Drinking green tea is like firing a pistol full of blanks.

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guiseppewv

AC - Those sites you linked to above are pretty interesting. There are a ton of teas on there and some pretty expensive teas too! Even if I don't end up buying any teas from there, I feel as though I am a little more tea savy now. Thanks!


I had not had a cup of Earl Grey in a while, so I decided to have a cup of Bigelow Earl Grey this morning. I must say it was tasty, however, it was not as good as the Bigelow Green. FYI: They have Bigelow teas available at work along with coffee. It is good to work near one of the VPs' offices.

Airencracken

guiseppewv, you need to order some proper tea STAT if you're enjoying Bigelow. That's like proclaiming your love of beef because you get free McD's.

Treat yourself and buy some steak, er gyokuro.

attgig

yeah, we get bigelow at the office, and honestly, I prefer the kirkland stuff to the bigelow.

I've done looseleafs but, not in a long time (just can't justify spending that money when i do most of my tea drinking in the office and i get the free bigelow).

and i usaully do sencha

guiseppewv

Hey, it was free! Free makes everything taste better. I drink frequently at work because it is free. You are right, I am looking to get some better tea because I was spoiled from the tea I had in Japan and the tea I bought over there.

guiseppewv

Are you sure the tao of tea address is right? It takes me to a page that looks like one of those ad/place holder websites.

I think the address you meant to provide was www.taooftea.com is that right? Or was it a different address/place? TIA

Airencracken

Hurrrrrr, you're right. I screwed up. I'll go edit the link.

tupacboy

unsweetened green tea with scotch.... soooo yummy