Putuo Organic Green and Imperial Green 2006 ?

That's very commendable, Jim. Most of us here have merely decided not to become millionaires. No doubt your renunciation has been much more difficult.

In that case, give Mr. Fong a call. He'll offer you plenty of opportunities for same.

That tea's price is well beyond the price that the high grade went for the 2006 spring tea. It's almost double. You are smart for not buying it. You would likely end up with some mid-grade stuff at 4 times the normal price.

la-de-dah-I-don't-know-what-it-is-how-you-came-by-it-I-like-it-so-I'm-gonna-buy-it

I guess I'll just throw down some bottom line for you: This is the way many Chinese do business. By withholding information from the masses, it protects their investment. It's more than likely just a random green tea from some countryside place in the Zhejiang province, but as long as nobody knows that, they can call it "The King of God" or "Jesus' Blood tea" or whatever they like; nobody knows the difference. This is how business here is done. Knowledge doesn't equal power, it equals money.

I understand the frustration of not being given an information on something that -- from the point of view of a customer -- should be given readily. But from the e-mail he sent to you, Roy Fong was *not* being dishonest or un-straightforward. He was, in fact, being honest and straightforward. He told you honestly that he can not divulge the information to you in a straightforward manner.

It sucks, I know, I myself don't like how he does it. Now, due to your values you have decided to not deal with him in the future. Understandable.

However,...IMHO

Maybe that tea is a very common, humbly-priced kind (or at least not worth the price he charges for it). But if you like the tea very much

*and* you haven't been able to find anything identical (or comparable) to it somewhere else, then it has become a rare and highly-valued thing in your own unique circumstances, right? If you can afford it, why not keep buying it from Roy and keep enjoying it? Reminder: he was not dishonest or un-straightforward.

Yes, you hardly need need to apologize to him, I agree, but Roy also hardly needs your apology or to apologize.

My two cents...IMHO.

PS: No, I have never bought anything from ITC...too expensive for my wallet.