Tenren is a gimme in the larger Chinatowns. Usually they have
selection with sky high prices. You can buy their commercial brand in
groceries cheaply. I always thought there is something missing in the
Tenren consumer equation when judging selection, quality, and price.
I've concluded there are two prices one in English for the tourists
and one in Chinese for the locals. I remember my first visit to
TenRen in SF in 73 and came away with sticker shock. If I could shop
in Tenren and come away with the best Formosa(company headquarters)
oolong and not worry about the price tag one could do worse. So
you're painting a picture of Chinatown which more or less reflects
what one should expect. That certainly hasn't been the case in the
past. I don't have any problems with off the shelf
oolongs,gunpowder,keemuns. For the beginner I'd recommend Indian,
Ceylon, African teas over Chinese. If you come across a commercial
brand of sow-mei you like please let me know here. I've tried many
brands over the years and can't get excited about any. However it is
probably simply since I know there is bud I don't worry about leaf.

Jim

"Peter" > wrote in message >...
> Well, in Vancouver's Chinatown, there are many shops with both commercially
> package tea, and loose leaf in jars. There are also two chain stores which
> seem to be associated somehow. They both have green awnings and green
> signs. One is Ten Ren, and the other is Ten Lee. They both have a lot of
> packaged, and a lot of loose. There is a Ten Ren in NYC Chinatown as well.
> I was in it last September. But even their stuff is only so good. Most of
> the other shops with tea in Chinatown are Chinese herbalists, selling all
> manner of herbs, dried whole snakes, mushrooms, scallops, etc. They have
> mostly packaged tea but also maybe a few jars of lesser quality loose.
>
> Heck, I'll meet someone there if you want and show you the shops. It's only
> a few blocks worth.
>
> My next tea mission will be to a shop in a largely Asian mall called
> Metrotown, where they have some choice sow-mei. Better than the best I've
> found in Chinatown.
>
> Peter
>
>
> "Space Cowboy" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Previous assertions made by others about VCBC said you can't even buy
> > Chinese commercial packaged tea in Chinatown. I can walk down aisles
> > in many stores with dozens and dozens of different brands with even
> > more teas to choose from.