Rishi Tea? (2026 Update)

Steve J. snipped-for-privacy@news.iquest.net4/29/05

Since you asked and only since you asked, several years ago I bought a Pu'erh Tuo Cha that they claimed was from the 1940's. It might well have been, but the tea is garbage. I knew nothing of aged Pu'erh then, but now I do. I feel cheated and I will never buy anything from Rishi again ever.

Michael

I've bought many teas from Rishi over the last ... oh, 2 1/2 years or so. I've liked some, didn't like others. But the kinds of tea I don't like from them - e.g., green teas, green oolongs - I've since found I don't like from any other dealer either. I've liked a number of their black/red teas and their oolongs, including their standard grade Iron Goddess, which I assume is the one you got.

I know Michael had a bad experience with them. However, I've met some of the Rishi people, and corresponded extensively with others (though I have *no* connection with the company at all), and believe them to both completely honest and extremely dedicated to tea and to delivering high-quality tea (that is: what they believe to be high-quality tea, which is all you can say about any tea dealer) to their customers. Puer is, I think, by far the tea that Western dealers themselves are most likely to have insufficient knowledge of, and also by far the most likely that the dealers will themselves get screwed on. While this doesn't excuse their apparent ignorance in Michael's case - Michael *did* also got screwed - I do think it explains how it happened (even if one thinks it still inexcusable). Ask Mike Petro and other long-time Puer lovers here how many times they've gotten screwed on supposedly old/aged Puer, or would have if they hadn't been wary enough. I will also note that Rishi no longer carries anything like the Puer that Michael got - their Puers now are all young or relatively young organic cooked and raw teas. Maybe they learned their lesson on the (alleged) old stuff.

In any case, it does seem a mite unfair to so completely condemn a tea dealer on the basis of one bad experience. If I applied that standard to the

Just my $.02.

Doug

Space snipped-for-privacy@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com4/29/05

Jim,

At the Whole Foods Market in your neck of the woods do they also sell "In Pursuit of Tea" teas? They do in the WFM I'm familiar with in NYC. If they do sell IPOT teas, I strongly recommend you give them a try. I've had really good experience with them. Besides, OK, we're practically neighbors.

Michael

Doug Hazen, Jr.d51dka$6cb$ snipped-for-privacy@pcls4.std.com4/30/05 22: snipped-for-privacy@nowhere.com

Doug,

And your $.02 is a rational analysis, and appreciated. Can't say that I've had that kind of experience with any other dealer myself save one. Also, since the poster did ask, I related my experience to add to the mix. I know many people who buy and enjoy Rishi Teas. In the case I described, I think they ought to have known better, and that they probably did. They are also an Ameican company and can be judged according to American standards.

Nonetheless all your points are well taken. Whether bad behavior on the part of a company is typical of the company or an anomaly comes to light in discussions such as this.

Michael

This morning drinking a very soft, gently woody, slightly sweet, replete with other complexities Bamboo CNNP 1992 Pu'erh form Jing Tea Shop. There is an off note in the smell of the leaves in the pot, but that note is not present in the smell of the liquor, so I dunno. This is a nice tea, and quite convenient. Thanks Mike for the sample.

Listening to Talip Ozkan play Saz. Perfect with the Pu'erh. (If you're Turkish, forgive me for not putting on the Umlaut thingie.)

All things being equal WFM would be the last place to buy tea from what I know is available on shelves in other markets. I just added my comments because one is usually within SUV driving distance in most metro areas. I don't remember seeing IPOT. I thought it was just a website.

Jim

Michael Plant wrote:

snipped-for-privacy@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com4/29/05

markets.

Yeah, but did they make it right or just kept your wad and said sorry? My Kunming dealer sold me a misrepresented fangcha but said he was also conned and offered a refund and a free gratis on a future purchase. I said the free gratis was good enough plus the purchase didn't involve a blemished wrapper. Now what do I do with a kilo of Yunnan Black Gold?

Jim

Michael Plant wrote:

standard to the

Space snipped-for-privacy@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com5/2/05

Whole sale business is IPOT's main thrust. They travel all over the place to that end. Actually, now that you mention it, places like WFM don't jive with your local ethnic grocer model.

Michael

The Pu erh Tuo Cha can never be from the 1940's. That is just a load of #$#$#. They are just there to scam the public. If you follow the history of the min Tuo Cha, it did not start until the late 60's.

Greg

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com snipped-for-privacy@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups. com5/3/05 01: snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com

It was a Tuo Cha, but *not* a mini.

Mike Petro, when did the Tuo form first rear its head?

I think we established that most people's experience with Rishi was not negative and that my experience was rather the exception than the rule.

Michael

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com snipped-for-privacy@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.

I am not sure of their original inception but Xia Guan has been producing tuocha since 1902. See

Mike