Japanese green tea

[maxmillan]

I'm not well versed in tea. But I'm looking for sencha-uchiyama and gyokuro.

I've checked Fujiya and the best they have is sencha of varying locations.

If there is a thread about Japanese green tea please direct me.

I'm hoping to get the tea for someone who will be going for chemo and radiation treatment for cancer. These two types of teas had one of the highest EGCG.

Also, what are black raspberries and where can I find them?

Thanks for your help.

[sygyzy]

Are you looking for just any Japanese green tea or do you actually care about quality?

[prasantrin]

If you can't find a local source, Ippodo ships internationally. They ship via EMS, but I don't think the shipping prices are unreasonable, especially since 50g of gyokurocha will actually go a long way.

[Edible Vancouver]

Go talk to Mark or Deborah at the Granville Island Tea Company in the public market. They have at least a couple dozen green teas of varying qualities. And if they do not have what you are looking for (which I doubt) they will know where to send you.

[Rhea_S]

Muzi (Cordova St across from Waterfront Center) has several green teas including an organic gyokuro. Tends to be pricey, but I do like their tea.

[Zucchini Mama]

If it is for cancer treatment I think the pills are recommended because they are so concentrated. Otherwise, phone the women at Shaktea as they are experts in green tea and carry some of the best.

[eatbemerry]

ITO EN has a good selection of green teas that you can order online.

http://www.itoen.com/leaf/index.cfm?sp=cat...CFQUOYAodFB80rA

I also came across this article that has interesting information about the health benefits of green tea:

http://www.qualiteas.com/features/greenteaandcancer.html

[CanadianBakin']

My husband gets his green tea at T&T Market. They have several varieties.

[haresfur]

Not a specific answer on the varieties you are interested in, but Murchies in British Columbia has a reasonable green tea selection. I have seen sencha at upscale/wholefood grocieries like PCC in the Pacific Northwest.

If you are after bags, I'm particularly fond of the sencha/matcha blend available from Costco in their typical substantial boxes.

For that matter you might consider matcha since you drink the powdered leaves which probably gives more concentrated chemical delivery. You can also cook with matcha. The best price on cooking matcha I have found was from Bobateadirect.com (do a search because it isn't their main product and can be hard to find). I get the pure matcha that isn't cut with sugar. There are also some EG members that sell matcha and possibly other tea that may chime in or pm you.

Hope your friend does well; chemo is so unfair - when you go to the doctors they aren't supposed to make you feel sick.

[chamekke]

I've ordered sencha from Japanese Green Teas Online before, and found their products to be very good. They have gyokuro, too.

They're based in Japan, as are O-Cha, who also offer a lot of Japanese green teas, including sencha and gyokuro. One of these days I'm going to try some of their products. Their forum is also very helpful.

In your situation, I would write to both companies describing what you're looking for, and asking for their recommendation for a good product for a first-time drinker (and your reasons for wanting these products - i.e. as a healthful drink for a friend with cancer).

If freshness is a concern, I'd be a little wary of buying off the shelf in North America - especially if the product is undated. This is particularly a concern with matcha, which expires very quickly and is undrinkable when stale.

Edited December 9, 2007 by chamekke (log)

[maxmillan]

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. Muzi sounds promising (thanks Rhea S.) But I will certainly check out the other sources as I will be promoting this to my family and friends.

I have been reading a lot of literature at the BC Cancer Research Centre and concluded that there is a positive link between the polypehnols in green tea and reduction of cancer.

My family and friends drink a fair amount of Chinese tea but Japanese Green tea seem to be more favorable as far as health benefits go.

Edited December 11, 2007 by maxmillan (log)

[twinkienic]

I don't remember what their selection was like... but Sawa Tea and Craft might be worth calling.

[Sonja]

In my opinion the best selection of high-end teas are to be found at "The Tea Store" at Park Royal.

[annanstee]

Black Raspberries are a raspberry varietal, but I haven't seen them in BC. I see them in Ontario all the time.

[Panda]

Shaktea was great last time I was there. Tried there Gyokuro and picked up a bag of their Kukicha. Very helpful and informative, need to pop by for a tea refill.

The Tea Store is Park Royal was also good, bought my teapot from there and the owner popped in 2 samples of tea. I live in Burnaby so it's a bit out of the way for me.

I bought some Gyokuro from Muzi (formerly Infuze I think) pricey, but that's what you get for Gyokuro.

I've only bought Roobios from the tea shop down in Granville Island and I've tried their Jasmine, but none of their Japanese teas. I'll have to try some on my next visit.

I'd suggest trying a cup while you're there to find which kind you like. If it's health related the more delicate teas that require longer steeping times will probably be better since you can steep them longer and get more flavour and other good stuff out of them. Gyokuro can be a bit pricey if it's consumed in large quantities everyday, a nice Sencha might be a good alternative. Good luck.

[LordBalthazar]

I get my matcha from Steeps on West Broadway.

[KarenDW]

also check with Galloway's in Richmond

[maxmillan]

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions on Japanese green tea.

I'm finding that the caffeine is not affecting me well. I understand rooibus has just as much antioxidants but no caffeine.

Can someone suggest a place to get a good quality rooibus (preferably organic.)

I don't know much about this tea except that it originates from Africa. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[sanrensho]

I don't know much about this tea except that it originates from Africa.  Any info would be greatly appreciated.

You can find everything you need to know about rooibos by doing a Google search. However, I will say that studies indicate that you should brew (steep) the tea for 10 minutes or more to maximize the antioxidants. With rooibos, long steep times don't produce extra bitterness.

[Zucchini Mama]

I'm not well versed in tea.  But I'm looking for sencha-uchiyama and gyokuro.

I've checked Fujiya and the best they have is sencha of varying locations.

If there is a thread about Japanese green tea please direct me.

I'm hoping to get the tea for someone who will be going for chemo and radiation treatment for cancer.  These two types of teas had one of the highest EGCG.

Also, what are black raspberries and where can I find them?

Thanks for your help.

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Any good tea shop should carry rooibus. It's a very healthy daily drink and you can leave the leaves in and drink it cold without it becoming bitter. I also drink a rooibus chai which is very nice, which they sell at Shaktea. Sometimes you see it in England marketed as "children's tea." It's the red bush tea that Mma Precious Ramotswe drinks in the Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency novels by Alexander McCall Smith.