Michael Plant wrote:
> I didn't think you were trying to split hairs, but
> I had the impression from your previous post
> that you had tasted a rarified version, and I
> wanted to get at the differences you experienced
> between that and the usual ones available to us.
> Truthfully, I'm far more interested in your
> impressions than in anything G&S has to say.

OK, I kinda re-read my own post and didn't like it myself I kinda got
that impression from rereading it, so I figured others might take it
that way.

> With some teas, the law of diminishing returns
> applies. That is, a tea for which you $1.00 or
> $2.00 a gram is 85%/90% as good as one that
> costs $50.00 a gram.

It's not so with Gyokuro. There is a definite difference, and the crazy
part is that the "fresh" stuff is actually the second grade! Which
suckers a lot of people. That was the reason I quoted G&S. I will say
though that there is a very small high end, a huge mid grade market
(which includes almost all online product), and a smallish low-end
(netto). So that is why I say to just be satisfied with the mid grade
and forget the rest, you'll get the basic point and save yourself a ton
of time and money and frustration.

> Well, focus and intensity sometimes elude
> me, so I'm better off without the premium
> brew. On the one hand you're saying that
> the real good stuff isn't worth it, but on
> the other hand, you're saying that the teas
> available to us disappooint you. So, are
> you saying that the difference *is* startling,
> and that it's *not* all hype? Sounds like it.
> (Of Gyokuro, we speak.)

There is a pronounced difference. But the taste, price, "mystery" and
intrigue surrounding it is hype. I have never bought and brewed my own
at the very high ends, I have always had the pleasure of being served
it. I think it is more enjoyable that way. Owning it is a curse. It
goes bad instantly (well not bad but not perfect after a short time no
matter what is done), it is a bear to brew correctly, and the stress of
screwing up $100 in one pop doesn't lead to any sense of balance or
harmony or happiness for me Maybe to those who happily can play $100
slot machines, but me I prefer to play the $0.25 and splurge on the $1
slots. Basically you need to at least start on the mid grades to learn,
then attempt to move into the ultra high end, but even then it is so
different to brew that you will waste at least $200-400 learning. I
guess to some that is worth it, just not me.

Also, since it isn't a daily tea, or even a tea to drink all that
frequently it is hard to use it up before it turns no matter what, and
it is a tea to enjoy as a special occasion. So it is almost better to
just pay to have it served to you every now and then and let someone
else deal with all the storage, brewing, and stress. At least I do.

> I'd say there is nothing truly like Gyokuro.
> There is no real substitute that I know of.
> The taste is not to be found among Chinese
> greens, and Chinese greens are high on my
> happy tea list.

Actually if you get a chance to try a high quality "Bird's Tongue" (I
believe it translates to Que She) I think you will be surprised. Small
leaves/buds very pale coloring and very close in taste.

> Pu'erh can sell at $175.00 per gram. Is that
> in the league? The Gyokuro market as you
> describe it is new to me.

Stupidly I forgot to mention the DJ industry/market/auction blows even
Gyokuro away. I figured people would pounce on that. I've seen Gyokuro
sell for what converts to close to $500 a gram, and have heard of a
place in Japan for ultra elite where a single cup is about $1k but that
is more for the "ambiance" and status/ego than the tea I'm sure.

> I'll bet you're wrong. I'll be there is a
> Mike Petro of Gyokuro, but not a
> public one.

Honestly I can't see how. The Japanese aren't real receptive to that
kind of thing, especially with things like this. I had a friend (the
one I spoke about earlier) who has been part of the tea business for 4
generations, is 100% Japanese, and he was so low on the totem pole he
was damn near the footer holding the totem pole up. I just can't see
how it could be done, but hey the reigning Sumo champ is a black dude
from Chicago and he has been adopted as a national symbol... so I guess
it could be done. I just kind of like to keep my pinky finger, and
don't really want to get into the Yakuza just to score some primo
tea... it kinda goes against my philosophy of tea just a wee bit

> All this is nothing more than my humble
> bunch of opinions.
>
> Michael

Hey its all good, I always enjoy your opinions... I just would like to
get the chance to speak in person instead of text where I think it
would be a hundred times easier. Like I said there may be a place or
two to get top end Gyokuro online, but I have yet to find one. And
honestly I'm cool with that, I enjoy the small amounts I buy each year
just fine and I'm just as happy.

- Dominic