Buying tea in Japan, via a friend.
Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2023 8:40 am
A good friend is in Japan with his family for the first time since COVID.
He will be in Osaka for a month or two with some trips to Kyoto.
He's offered to pick me and a few others up some tea.
I requested;
Sae Midori Fukamushi Sencha
Genmai Chai with Matcha
Yame Gyokuro
Matcha
Preferably not organic and from the past 12 months.
Thinking this shouldn't be too tough.
He's got back asking for more options, brands, shops etc. I suspect he is now shopping for not just me but himself, and as gifts for a few other friends I know.
I know very little here. I just order from O-Cha, Ippodo or similar and have done since TeaChat was new and cool and have never set foot in Japan.
Are there brands or shops that are worth seeking out? Any tips on 3rd party tea shopping in Japan?
Seems like an opportunity to try stuff not easily available online....or do I just copy and paste names and brands off of Ippodo, O-Cha etc and play it safe?
He will be in Osaka for a month or two with some trips to Kyoto.
He's offered to pick me and a few others up some tea.
I requested;
Sae Midori Fukamushi Sencha
Genmai Chai with Matcha
Yame Gyokuro
Matcha
Preferably not organic and from the past 12 months.
Thinking this shouldn't be too tough.
He's got back asking for more options, brands, shops etc. I suspect he is now shopping for not just me but himself, and as gifts for a few other friends I know.
I know very little here. I just order from O-Cha, Ippodo or similar and have done since TeaChat was new and cool and have never set foot in Japan.
Are there brands or shops that are worth seeking out? Any tips on 3rd party tea shopping in Japan?
Seems like an opportunity to try stuff not easily available online....or do I just copy and paste names and brands off of Ippodo, O-Cha etc and play it safe?