Revisiting the freshness issue

It's hard to describe what really fresh tea smells like. One reason, of course, is that different genres of tea give off different aromas when equally fresh.

But if a tea shop will let you sniff the tea, maybe they'll brew it for you? That's the way it is in China, and it isn't unheard of in the USA, either. They might charge you a little, but it's worth it.

That's a good policy if you aren't allowed to taste the tea at the shop (or if you're buying online - some online vendors will let you buy, say, one ounce.) But failing that, a decent vendor should tell you honestly when the tea was picked/manufactured, and that will increase your chance of getting something you'll like.

/Lew

All good questions. Even with less-than-stellar olfactory sense you should still smell the tea. Sometimes if it smells good to you that is all that matters, I've bought what I know to be older tea that still caught me in some way and it's every bit as enjoyable as the "freshest" of the season. Sometimes fresh doesn't mean better in taste, it can be edgier and a little aging knocks that off. I've bought gyokuro out of season, I'd never let that stop me... but I won't pay astronomical prices for it either. If it smells off, moldy, of the flavored tea of the month next to it, flat, then obviously stay away.

Tea in America is rarely all that fresh no matter the source, it is more about proper storage. After a few orders from different vendors you will quickly discern who properly stores and ships their teas. Upton's has been off at times, Teaspring has only had a couple that I'd say were older but I've also had some of the freshest yellow tea ever from them, smaller boutique vendors can be hit or miss but they often take more care in storage which is a plus.

Not many places are going to nitro seal the whole lot after every sale, but they also shouldn't have clear glass latch-type containers with rubber gaskets that haven't been changed in years (there are two such places in my hometown of Pittsburgh). It is another one of those variables to tea that make it much more difficult than picking a great wine.

With a new vendor, or even a known vendor but a new tea or potentially older batch, I always buy their samples first. The small cost and small shipping charge is always worth it to not get stuck with 1/4lb. or more of a bad tea. Your storage at home matters just as much. I personally split my tea up into two or three containers. One I use from the other two stay sealed and away, that way I'm not opening the whole lot daily and the containers can be smaller.

- Dominic

I think refreshness in tea is overrated all things being equal. Everything is shipped in packaging. I dont even think you need to take into count how the tea is stored at the shoppe and under what kind of conditions ie at least keep the lid on the container. There should be some which you can inspect and subsequently buy already sealed and preferrably at least partially vacuum dumped. I have a friend who gets her tea sent from a tea factory in Kenya where she lived nearby. Ive had some and it never struck me that it was refresher than anything else I can remember. Ill buy any tea in a nitrogen pack. I let everybody drink the 2009 and I buy the 2008 on discount. I dont worry about samplers perse. If I buy 100g of something and think I got screwed I wont be back.

Jim

I agree with your sentiments, but just two examples, anecdotal, where it fails a bit. I bought some Silver Needles from a local shop that used the clear glass/gasket containers and it ended up tasting just like the heavily flavored tea right next to it on the shelf in the same type of container. They just don't seal well enough and the gaskets themselves soak up scents.

I've had mis-steps by even very highly-regarded vendors around here. Tea that was shipped in sealed pouches but that obviously was far too stale and had not been stored properly. These were expensive teas and on one occasion I then ordered a second smaller sampler order of the same tea to see if it was just that package or the whole lot and the sampler was the same. The vendor worked with me to come to a resolution but it was a hassle and while I wouldn't say I'd never go back it makes me pause when I do. It hasn't happened again, but even on the five or six times it has over the past couple years from different vendors it would have been worth it to spend the small amount of shipping to preview the tea first.

Absolutely the best is if they will brew you a cup on the spot, but with where I live online is 99% of my orders and it just isn't an option. I think that's where our two perspectives differ, you happen to live where you can actually go and drink some good tea and buy first-hand and then selectively choose a few online. I don't have that option and almost all of my purchases have to come sight unseen, which is why the smaller sampler order first is more important to me I think.

There have only been three teas in all my time that freshness made an experience that could not be beat. 1) Hand-delivered Gyokuro freshly processed 2) Huo Shan Huang Ya yellow tea from Teaspring one time that was so fresh it bowled me over when I opened the packet (staleness is very apparent in this tea and changes the tea entirely) 3) BLC served to me in a small shop that was so fresh I had never seen or smelled anything like it, the owner stated they had never got such a fresh shipment themselves and she was just as excited by it.

So I guess with only three times in 16 years or so it can be said that it isn't the most important factor and more of a treat if/when it does happen with a particular tea that really shines when super fresh.

- Dominic