Best Online Store for Chinese Teas (ship to US)?

I like TeaSpring, Jing's and a few eBay vendors who are honorable and send good tea at fair prices - Yunnan Sourcing, of course, and Dragon Tea House, Awazon, and China Health (?). I always have great experiences (fast, careful shipping etc) with TeaSpring and Jing's. Oh, and Touchatea (for puerhs only). Qimens from Jing's are superior, especially "gift" and "gung fu" quality. Shen

I don't know how these teas compare to others [I would be interested in some opinions] but a friend of a relative does this site, and I've liked the tea I got from him.

the touchatea website has some interesting items, but if you will pardon me for sounding like a noob, I was always under the impression that tea bricks were of fairly low quality. Is this not the case (i've tried a few cups over the years and was wildly unimpressed). are there actually pe erh bricks that are actually decent tea?

I'm trying teaspring for the first time today. I've used Adagio, TenRen's, and Jing's with generally favorable results, though I believe TenRen erred by giving lower quality teas than what I ordered twice.

I've never used Drag> I like TeaSpring, Jing's and a few eBay vendors who are honorable and

Off-topic: No, no, no! It depends upon the tea - sheng, shu, where it was manufactured and by whom, how old, how new! Go to

Mike"s site will provide any info you need regarding pu-erh. There are lots of criteria. Bricks are convenient, generally economical and often just chock full of very, very good tea. Shen

Please do not post advertising SPAM here. Thanks.

SpecialTeas are okay. I find Seven Cups expensive and Adagio the high end of mediocre (in general). The shops I mentioned are all in China and/or Taiwan. HoudeAsian has predictably excellent teas. Guang is in Texas. Happy sipping! Shen

I'm sorry, I had no intention of posting spam, but wasn't the OP requesting opinions about various online stores selling teas? I thought it was only natural to link to the particular store that I favored. I guess, in looking at the other stores that people have mentioned, they did not provide links. Is it better to not give links to particular sites even when referencing those sites in these discussions? It seems that this would be a good way to get people confused about what particular store they are discussing.

Again, I apologize for any trouble.

No apology needed IMHO I think your reply was fine in reference to the topic. I actually had never heard of Little Mountain before but I'd maybe try a couple offerings. The quality is a bit tough to tell from just the site but it seems in line with the pricing.

I actually prefer a link rather than just a name since it saves me a step or two. I'd say no harm no foul, no worries :)

- Dominic

It's okay. It just seemed odd that you have never or infrequently posted and then there is a refernce to a "friend of a relative". Very often this list is mistaken for an advertising site, rather than a recommendation and discussion site. No problem. Shen

I have liked Adagio's white teas, though never thought their black/red teas compared to stuff I'd get even from TenRen. I just placed an order with Jing's--great prices, but high shipping.

On a slightly unrelated note, my colleague is interested in green teas--actually the Chinese tea I know _least_ about, and I started talking about some basics, and it reminded me that I purchased some fabulous tea near Lu Shan, Jiangxi province. The English translation was Cloud Mist tea (my Chinese is rusty--yun wu?). I'm 99% sure it was a green, though the flavor was similar to some whites I've enjoyed. Anyone know of this tea or similar varieties?

I have placed about eight online orders over the last 5 years. Probably

3 through Adagio, 2 through Upton, 1 Teaspring, 1 Generation Tea and 1 through Green Tea Store.

Based only on service, speed of delivery and website I would say my best experience has been with Adagio and Upton. The delivery speed of Adagio and Upton is fast and the communication is good, using their "standard delivery" (ordered from both on a Sunday afternoon, minutes apart and received the samples 3 business days later within hours apart. (My shipping location is southwest Ohio) Upton's website is good for information on tea.

I have an existing order from Teaspring; and I have been waiting now 8 business days for standard delivery (I know it is from Calif, but it is getting to be too long of wait for me to consider this good service, but it is only my first order from them).

I don't think Adagio has a lot of Chinese reds, but they do have a few whites and darjeelings. I think you will have better luck with your selection if you try Upton (

) [ TO KEEP THE THREAD POLICE HAPPY, THIS IS NOT A SCAM ]

Alton

5te> What's your opinion of the many online stores selling Chinese teas? I

[Alton] "I have an existing order from Teaspring; and I have been waiting now 8

The tea from TeaSpring will not travel to you from California. It will arrive from Guangzhou. All teas sent standard delivery from China require more than eight days.

>

For Puerh, I love the Puerh Shop!

TeaSpring is extremely reliable and, in general, really good tea for the price. I order from them frequently and can vouch for the quality. I am in California and their tea arrives, most often, in two weeks. They know their tea and strive for top quality and the shipping is extremely reasonable. Adagio, in my opinion, is just over-priced for very ordinary tea. Upton is great, especially for "English" tea drinkers. I just prefer the variety available in the Chinese tea businesses. Sebastien at Jing's will "special order" for you anything you prefer. In regard to "thread police", I have only been on this board a little more than two years; but, during that time, many folks have post to advertise what is generally a pretty lousy selection of over-priced junk - everything from cracked "antique" phony-baloney teapots to pu- erh made to look aged. It's just my suspicious nature - I'm one of those who tends to question authority. Anyway, this guy obviously meant no harm nor had covert attentions. Enough said. Shen

Yes, Yun Wu sounds right. But it names a class of teas rather than one particular one.

/Lew

Very interesting website, thanks for the link and the response :)