579037 Wed Dec 10 12:35:39 -0800 2008 10 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 4236288 Hi All, I'm looking to buy my girlfriend's father some high quality gyokuro (Japanese green tea) for Christmas, and am hoping to buy it from a reputable online retailer known for high quality tea. Any suggestions? I'm familiar with Upton Tea -- and they may well be a good source for this -- but I'd like to hear other recommendations. Thanks in advance! Wed Dec 10 12:35:39 -0800 2008 52574 sanangel 1 4237114 Here in Oakland, CA, ther's a tea company called "Nummi". I'm not a tea person, but they are reputed to make some killer products, including a "blossom" tea that unfurls into a flower when you pour the water over it. Don't know if they have a website. Adam Wed Dec 10 17:11:07 -0800 2008 4236288 154787 adamshoe 2 4237118 Sorry, it's spelled NUMI....Adam Wed Dec 10 17:12:38 -0800 2008 4237114 154787 adamshoe 2 4237576 Numi is good for what it is, but majority of their products are tea bags. It is the tea I consume when I need to use a bag (mostly when traveling), but not sure if their rare loose teas will be the highest quality. Rishi is very decent and they do partner with actual growers and conduct "fair trade" deals. Ito-En specializes in Japanese teas, and I was fairly satisfied with their matcha and genmaicha. Wed Dec 10 20:13:20 -0800 2008 4237114 53259 emerilcantcook 1 4238728 Numi does have a website, it's www.numitea.com. I have ordered quite a lot from them and have had nothing but wonderful experiences. They have very close relationships with their farmers as well to ensure that the fair trade label isn't just a label, but something that is actually true. If loose tea is what you are looking for, again, i have bought from Numi and their loose quality is just as wonderful as their teabag quality, they actually have some really good flavors loose that aren't available in teabag form! hope this helps! Thu Dec 11 09:11:36 -0800 2008 4236288 247660 Laine123 1 4238777 I like Mighty Leaf: http://www.mightyleaf.com/ Thu Dec 11 09:23:39 -0800 2008 4236288 15687 PamelaD 2 4246254 I just read the reviews of the Mighty Leaf gyokuro. http://www.mightyleaf.com/loose-tea_green-tea/gyokuro-green-tea/ Sounds promising. Nummi tea doesn't have a gyokuro that I can see and to the poster above, suggesting a blossom tea for someone looking for gyokuro -- well, you might as well suggest they buy some coffee instead (tea is not tea). I was disappointed in the last tea I ordered from Ito-En (an organic sencha, not a gyokuro). I am just about to order some expensive sencha from Mariage Freres in Paris - seems kind of silly that you have to order Japanese tea from Paris, but I have been a bit disappointed in most of the Japanese teas I have ordered recently, so maybe Mariage Freres is getting all the good stuff. Mariage Freres sells even more expensive gyokuro. But the Mighty Leaf sounds interesting. Sun Dec 14 14:21:22 -0800 2008 4238777 27951 omotosando 1 4246278 Just found this online review praising Palais des Thes' $160 gyokuro. http://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=NhG9YxCxhrkCwZvZtDd-Tg Haven't tried it myself. Don't know how much you were planning to spend :) Palais des Thes in Beverly Hills doesn't sell online, but you could call up and order by phone. 401 N Canon Dr Beverly Hills, CA 90210 (310) 271-7922 Sun Dec 14 14:38:25 -0800 2008 4236288 27951 omotosando 1 4246344 Hi! Upton Tea is by far my favorite online tea source overall, but I also have had excellent service from Mighty Leaves tea and they have some very tasty teas and herbal infusions that Upton does not have. I don't even bother ordering from anyone else any more but am always open to new suggestions. :) Sun Dec 14 15:11:46 -0800 2008 4236288 248473 FrancaV 1 4248317 Adagio has some great tea, but I'm not sure it's the best for green tea. Adagio has a forum: http://www.teachat.com/ , which might be a good place to look for tips. Good luck! Mon Dec 15 11:38:12 -0800 2008 4236288 10035 jandazza 1 4252974 I've had great success with Teavana. Wonderful teas and excellent service. www.teavana.com Tue Dec 16 23:13:27 -0800 2008 4236288 119807 Alfred G