The following is an updated list of all known English online vendors selling Korean loose leaf tea. Each vendor is divided by country and includes a link to their web page and a short write up about how/where they source their Korea tea. Following this is a link to their current Korean tea products. Other information is also included about the type of Korean tea produced, the Korean tea producing area, the grade of tea (if applicable). Also listed is any other vendors which sell the same tea for comparison. The names of the teas are taken from the vendor's web pages and additions are added in brackets.
Reviews and background on many of these teas and the producers who make them can be found by searching this blog. In these posts are links to other blogs which have reviewed the same tea.
If you know of any others that are not mentioned, please leave a comment and they will be added to the list. This is not an endorsement of these teas, tea companies, or tea vendors, it is simply a list.
Reviews and background on many of these teas and the producers who make them can be found by searching this blog. In these posts are links to other blogs which have reviewed the same tea.
If you know of any others that are not mentioned, please leave a comment and they will be added to the list. This is not an endorsement of these teas, tea companies, or tea vendors, it is simply a list.
North American Online Korean Tea Vendors
United States of America:
Butiki Teas
This company offers one Korean tea. Currently, its source, production, harvest year, and grade are unknown.
Green Tea:
South Korean Green (sold out)
Detroit Zen Center
Currently they do not offer Korean teas for sale over the internet.
Fava Tea Company
This company offers one Korean tea. Currently, its source, production, harvest year, and grade are unknown.
Green Tea:
South Korean "Yun"
Good Green Tea
These guys are quickly becoming the most diverse Korean tea dealer in the West. They carry teas from three of the oldest and most established Korean tea companies, Hankook Tea, Ssang Kye, and Jukro. They price the tea at prices close to Korean shelf prices and offer free shipping. Ssang Kye tea is also stocked by Shan Shui Tea (below), Jukro tea is also stocked by CoreaColor (below), and (of course) Hankook Tea is stocked by Hankook (below). They are also beginning to bring in limited number micro farmed teas as well under their brand ZeDa. Currently they have ZeDa and Jukro 2013 harvest green tea.
Green Tea:
Teuk Seon Green Tea (Late Saejak)
Jeong Seon Green Tea (Jungjak)
Ssangkye Premium Woojeon
Ssangkye Jakseol (Seajak)
Ssangkye Roasted Sajack
Ssangkye Jongno (Jungjak)
Jukro Green Tea Saejak
Jukro Green Tea Jungjak
Jukro Green Tea Daejak
ZeDa Sejak Green Tea (sold out)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Oolong Tea (same as Hankook's Hwang Tea (Yellow Tea))
Ssangkye Black Tea Sejack
(Ssang Kye) Chun Go Hyang- Hwang Cha Yellow Tea
ZeDa Hwang Cha/ Yellow Tea
Powdered Green Tea:
Gamnong Matcha (Powdered Green Tea)
Ssangkye Sejak Powdered Tea
Hancha Tea
Currently the region, grade, and harvest year of these Korean teas are unknown. This site is currently down.
Green Tea:
Early Summer Jakseol
Lux Green
Misty Green
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Amber Gold
Hankook Tea Company
The first Korean company to set up shop in the West. They produce their own tea from their own tea gardens most of which are around the Gwangju area. They are picked by hand then machine produced. They carry two lines of tea- one carrying the highest Korean Organic certification and the other their traditional offering.
Green Tea:
Organic Gamnong Green Tea (Early Saejak)
Organic Chut Mool Green Tea (Late Saejak)
Organic Doo Mool Green Tea (Jungjak)
Ujeon Gamro Green Tea
Gamnong Green Tea (Early Saejak)
Teuk Seon Green Tea (Late Saejak)
Jeong Seon Green Tea (Jungjak)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Hwang Tea (Yellow Tea)
Powdered Green Tea:
Gamnong Matcha
United States of America:
Butiki Teas
This company offers one Korean tea. Currently, its source, production, harvest year, and grade are unknown.
Green Tea:
South Korean Green (sold out)
Detroit Zen Center
Currently they do not offer Korean teas for sale over the internet.
Fava Tea Company
This company offers one Korean tea. Currently, its source, production, harvest year, and grade are unknown.
Green Tea:
South Korean "Yun"
Good Green Tea
These guys are quickly becoming the most diverse Korean tea dealer in the West. They carry teas from three of the oldest and most established Korean tea companies, Hankook Tea, Ssang Kye, and Jukro. They price the tea at prices close to Korean shelf prices and offer free shipping. Ssang Kye tea is also stocked by Shan Shui Tea (below), Jukro tea is also stocked by CoreaColor (below), and (of course) Hankook Tea is stocked by Hankook (below). They are also beginning to bring in limited number micro farmed teas as well under their brand ZeDa. Currently they have ZeDa and Jukro 2013 harvest green tea.
Green Tea:
Teuk Seon Green Tea (Late Saejak)
Jeong Seon Green Tea (Jungjak)
Ssangkye Premium Woojeon
Ssangkye Jakseol (Seajak)
Ssangkye Roasted Sajack
Ssangkye Jongno (Jungjak)
Jukro Green Tea Saejak
Jukro Green Tea Jungjak
Jukro Green Tea Daejak
ZeDa Sejak Green Tea (sold out)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Oolong Tea (same as Hankook's Hwang Tea (Yellow Tea))
Ssangkye Black Tea Sejack
(Ssang Kye) Chun Go Hyang- Hwang Cha Yellow Tea
ZeDa Hwang Cha/ Yellow Tea
Powdered Green Tea:
Gamnong Matcha (Powdered Green Tea)
Ssangkye Sejak Powdered Tea
Hancha Tea
Currently the region, grade, and harvest year of these Korean teas are unknown. This site is currently down.
Green Tea:
Early Summer Jakseol
Lux Green
Misty Green
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Amber Gold
Hankook Tea Company
The first Korean company to set up shop in the West. They produce their own tea from their own tea gardens most of which are around the Gwangju area. They are picked by hand then machine produced. They carry two lines of tea- one carrying the highest Korean Organic certification and the other their traditional offering.
Green Tea:
Organic Gamnong Green Tea (Early Saejak)
Organic Chut Mool Green Tea (Late Saejak)
Organic Doo Mool Green Tea (Jungjak)
Ujeon Gamro Green Tea
Gamnong Green Tea (Early Saejak)
Teuk Seon Green Tea (Late Saejak)
Jeong Seon Green Tea (Jungjak)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Hwang Tea (Yellow Tea)
Powdered Green Tea:
Gamnong Matcha
Morning Crane Tea
These guys source their tea from famous tea producer Dong Cheon, a tea cooperative of 88 farmers in the Ssangkye tea producing area. The tea is picked by hand then standardized production methods are used including the Jung cha method. This tea is true semi-wild tea. These same teas are also offered by Phoenix Tea Shop. In late 2012 they started to source semi-wild and wild teas from small farms. You can get a hold of them through the contact info on their blog.
Green Tea:
Saejak
Jungjak
Daejak
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Dan-cha (hong cha)
2012 Jeong Jae Yeun Wild Jiri Moutain Hwang Cha
These guys source their tea from famous tea producer Dong Cheon, a tea cooperative of 88 farmers in the Ssangkye tea producing area. The tea is picked by hand then standardized production methods are used including the Jung cha method. This tea is true semi-wild tea. These same teas are also offered by Phoenix Tea Shop. In late 2012 they started to source semi-wild and wild teas from small farms. You can get a hold of them through the contact info on their blog.
Green Tea:
Saejak
Jungjak
Daejak
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Dan-cha (hong cha)
2012 Jeong Jae Yeun Wild Jiri Moutain Hwang Cha
These guys source their tea from famous tea producer Dong Cheon, a tea cooperative of 88 farmers in the Ssangkye tea producing area. The tea is picked by hand then standardized production methods are used including the Jung cha method. This tea is true semi-wild tea. They currently offer 2011 teas. These same teas are also offered by Morning Crane Tea and Tea Trekker.
Green Tea:
Dong Cheon Sejak (sold out)
Dong Cheon Jungjak (sold out)
Dong Cheon Daejak (sold out)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Dong Cheon Red Tea (Dan-cha)
Republic Of Tea (formally Rare Tea Republic)
Republic of Tea recently took amalgamated its side company Rare Tea Republic. This outfit sources their tea from a small cooperative in Hadong. It is all hand picked by farmers and hand produced by teamaster Lee Kyong Sook. They sell 2012 harvest.
Green Tea:
Ha Dong Sejak
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Ha Dong Bohea Green Tea
Dong Cheon Sejak (sold out)
Dong Cheon Jungjak (sold out)
Dong Cheon Daejak (sold out)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Dong Cheon Red Tea (Dan-cha)
Republic Of Tea (formally Rare Tea Republic)
Republic of Tea recently took amalgamated its side company Rare Tea Republic. This outfit sources their tea from a small cooperative in Hadong. It is all hand picked by farmers and hand produced by teamaster Lee Kyong Sook. They sell 2012 harvest.
Green Tea:
Ha Dong Sejak
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Ha Dong Bohea Green Tea
Shan Shui Teas
These guys buy a variety of popular, reputable Hadong and Ssanggye area teas (such as Ssang Kye and Koryeo) from well known and established Korean producers and sell them for a mark-up on their site. Currently they have a nice selection of 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008 teas in stock.
Green Tea:
Tokpoom Goryeo (Premium Ujeon) (2012 is sold out, older harvest years still available)
Woojeon Goryeo (Ujeon) (2012 is sold out, older harvest years still available)
Saejak Goryeo (2012 is sold out, older harvest years still available)
Saejak Ssanggye
Joongjak Ssanggye (Jungjak)
Joongjak Goryeo (Jungjak)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Woojeon Cheongcha (Ujeon)
Teokseon Cheongcha Goryeo (premium Ujeon)
STASH Tea
This large tea company more famous for its teabags offers a loose Jeju green tea. Harvest year, production, grade, and source unknown.
Green Tea:
Jeju Korean Green
Tea Trekker
Their teas are from Hankook Tea (see above), the first Korean company to set up shop in the West. Hankook Tea's gardens are mostly located around the Gwangju area. They are picked by hand then machine produced. Tea Trekker carry only 2012 teas.
Green Tea:
Jaksul Cha- Gamnong (Early Saejak)
Jaksul Cha- Teuksun (Late Saejak) (sold out)
These guys buy a variety of popular, reputable Hadong and Ssanggye area teas (such as Ssang Kye and Koryeo) from well known and established Korean producers and sell them for a mark-up on their site. Currently they have a nice selection of 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008 teas in stock.
Green Tea:
Tokpoom Goryeo (Premium Ujeon) (2012 is sold out, older harvest years still available)
Woojeon Goryeo (Ujeon) (2012 is sold out, older harvest years still available)
Saejak Goryeo (2012 is sold out, older harvest years still available)
Saejak Ssanggye
Joongjak Ssanggye (Jungjak)
Joongjak Goryeo (Jungjak)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Woojeon Cheongcha (Ujeon)
Teokseon Cheongcha Goryeo (premium Ujeon)
STASH Tea
This large tea company more famous for its teabags offers a loose Jeju green tea. Harvest year, production, grade, and source unknown.
Green Tea:
Jeju Korean Green
Tea Trekker
Their teas are from Hankook Tea (see above), the first Korean company to set up shop in the West. Hankook Tea's gardens are mostly located around the Gwangju area. They are picked by hand then machine produced. Tea Trekker carry only 2012 teas.
Green Tea:
Jaksul Cha- Gamnong (Early Saejak)
Jaksul Cha- Teuksun (Late Saejak) (sold out)
Canada:
DavidsTea
This is one of Canada's "Big Three" tea chains- the first tea chain store to offer Korean Tea in North America. Their tea is sourced from a farmers co-op on Jeju Island where it is at least partially machine produced.
Green Tea:
Korean Sejak
O5Tea
They source semi-wild Hwagae Valley tea directly from teamaster Kim Jong Yeol (Butea). All the tea available is from the 2012 harvest. Kim Jong Yeol (Butea) is also available from Jiri Mountain Tea Company (below), Tea Mountain (below), and In The Mood For Tea (below). They even source 2010 ddok cha coins from Bo Hyang Tea in the Boseong growing area. They are the only western source for coin style ddok cha.
Green Tea:
Sejak (sold out)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Balhyocha Saebyok (ujeon grade)
Balhyocha Noeul (saejak grade) (sold out)
Balhyocha MHL(daejak grade)
Ddok Cha Coins (2010-Boseong)
European Online Korean Tea Vendors
Czech Republic:
Bily Jerab
They sell real semi-wild Jiri mountain tea produced by famous teamaster Shin Gwang-su. Currently one is unsure wether they take international orders. The harvest year of these teas are currently unknown.
Green Tea:
Shin Gwang-su Seikou
Shin Gwang-su Sumi
Shin Gwang-su Sunsumi (sold out)
Nokcha (grade and region unspecified) (sold out)
Dobra Cajovna
They source their tea from established producers in the Jiri Mountain area. They have two teahouses in the USA that carry these teas. They are currently sold out of all Korean tea.
Green Tea:
Nokcha (Jungjak- sold out)
Jookro Seajak (sold out)
Darjeeling.cz
They source Hadong, Ssanggye area tea right from small producers. Currently, they have 2012 teas in stock.
Green Tea:
Ujeon Jakseolcha- Sparrow's Tongue (sold out)
Nokcha Sejak (sold out)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Hwang Cha- Yellow Tea
Tea Mountain
These guys carry 2011 teas from Hwagae Valley producers- Kim Jong Yeol (Butea) and Kim Shin Ho (Samtae). They also stock Jukro's cake "Tong E Cha" balhyocha. Kim Jong Yeol (Butea) 2012 teas can also be purchased at O5tea (above), Jiri Mountain Tea Company (below), and In The Mood For Tea (below).
Green Tea:
Saejak Butea (Kim Jong Yeol)
Saejak Samtae (Kim Shin Ho)
Jungjak Butea (Kim Jong Yeol)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Balhyocha Saebyeok Hyanggi "Sunrise" (Kim Jong Yeol)
Balhyocha Noeul Hyanggi "Sunset" (Kim Jong Yeol)
Hwagae Uricha Tongecha (Jukro)
England:
East Teas
They source their tea from Dong Cheon, a tea cooperative of 88 farmers in the Ssangkye tea producing area. The tea is picked by hand then standardized production methods are used. This green tea is true semi-wild tea produced using machine production and the jeung cha method.
Green Tea:
Sparrow's Tongue (Jiri Mountain, Ujeon)
Nokcha (Boseong, Saejak)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Hongcha (Region not specified)
Nothing But Tea
Green Tea:
Korean Green Tea FOP
Postcard Teas
They source their tea from Dong Cheon, a tea cooperative of 88 farmers in the Ssangkye tea producing area. The tea is picked by hand then standardized production methods are used. This green tea is true semi-wild tea produced using machine production and the jeung cha method. Dong Cheon teas are also available from Morning Crane Tea (above), Pheonix Tea Shop (above), and East Teas (above).
Green Tea:
Sparrow's Tongue (Jiri Mountain, Ujeon) (sold out)
Nokcha (Boseong, Saejak)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Korean Breakfast (Dan Cha)
Korean Arts
Korean Arts, an exclusively internet based business, exports a bunch of different Korean stuff including boxes of O'sulloc tea (see below). The Se-jak that Korean Arts sells is an O'sulloc premium tea, the other three are generally sold at Korean supermarkets and are not available on the O'sulloc English webpage for purchase. Believe their stock is 2010.
Green Tea:
Se-jak (Se-jak grade) TG002S (Sejac, see below)
Jak-seol (Jung-jak grade) TG003O (Sulloc Jaksul Okrok)
Man-su (Dae-jak grade) TG004M (Sulloc Jaksul Dukgum)
Halla (Dae-jak grade) TG004H (Sulloc Jaksul Jeungjae)
O'sulloc
This is the largest tea producer in Korea and just recently started selling tea to International customers over the internet and apparently has now stopped. This tea is grown primarily grown on Jeju Island and is completely machine processed. Will leave the below names for reference although the links no longer work.
Green Tea:
Okro (shade Grown)
Ujeon
Sejac (Saejak)
Ouksujin (grade unspecified)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Seonhyang (lightly oxidized)
Woonhyang (medium oxidized)
Samdayeon (post fermented)
See these posts & comments for more information on the grading system of Korean tea (Ujeon, Saejak, Jungjak):
Categorizing Korean Green Teas: Why We Categorize
Satisfying Marshaln
See these posts for more information on the three main tea producing regions of Korea:
Three Main Tea Producing Areas In Korea: Boseong
Three Main Tea Producing Areas In Korea: Jeju Island
Three Main Tea Producing Areas In Korea: Jiri Mountain
Disambiguation of Jiri Mountain Tea
Edited on Nov 20/2012
Peace
This is one of Canada's "Big Three" tea chains- the first tea chain store to offer Korean Tea in North America. Their tea is sourced from a farmers co-op on Jeju Island where it is at least partially machine produced.
Green Tea:
Korean Sejak
O5Tea
They source semi-wild Hwagae Valley tea directly from teamaster Kim Jong Yeol (Butea). All the tea available is from the 2012 harvest. Kim Jong Yeol (Butea) is also available from Jiri Mountain Tea Company (below), Tea Mountain (below), and In The Mood For Tea (below). They even source 2010 ddok cha coins from Bo Hyang Tea in the Boseong growing area. They are the only western source for coin style ddok cha.
Green Tea:
Sejak (sold out)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Balhyocha Saebyok (ujeon grade)
Balhyocha Noeul (saejak grade) (sold out)
Balhyocha MHL(daejak grade)
Ddok Cha Coins (2010-Boseong)
European Online Korean Tea Vendors
Czech Republic:
Bily Jerab
They sell real semi-wild Jiri mountain tea produced by famous teamaster Shin Gwang-su. Currently one is unsure wether they take international orders. The harvest year of these teas are currently unknown.
Green Tea:
Shin Gwang-su Seikou
Shin Gwang-su Sumi
Shin Gwang-su Sunsumi (sold out)
Nokcha (grade and region unspecified) (sold out)
Dobra Cajovna
They source their tea from established producers in the Jiri Mountain area. They have two teahouses in the USA that carry these teas. They are currently sold out of all Korean tea.
Green Tea:
Nokcha (Jungjak- sold out)
Jookro Seajak (sold out)
Darjeeling.cz
They source Hadong, Ssanggye area tea right from small producers. Currently, they have 2012 teas in stock.
Green Tea:
Ujeon Jakseolcha- Sparrow's Tongue (sold out)
Nokcha Sejak (sold out)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Hwang Cha- Yellow Tea
Tea Mountain
These guys carry 2011 teas from Hwagae Valley producers- Kim Jong Yeol (Butea) and Kim Shin Ho (Samtae). They also stock Jukro's cake "Tong E Cha" balhyocha. Kim Jong Yeol (Butea) 2012 teas can also be purchased at O5tea (above), Jiri Mountain Tea Company (below), and In The Mood For Tea (below).
Green Tea:
Saejak Butea (Kim Jong Yeol)
Saejak Samtae (Kim Shin Ho)
Jungjak Butea (Kim Jong Yeol)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Balhyocha Saebyeok Hyanggi "Sunrise" (Kim Jong Yeol)
Balhyocha Noeul Hyanggi "Sunset" (Kim Jong Yeol)
Hwagae Uricha Tongecha (Jukro)
England:
East Teas
They source their tea from Dong Cheon, a tea cooperative of 88 farmers in the Ssangkye tea producing area. The tea is picked by hand then standardized production methods are used. This green tea is true semi-wild tea produced using machine production and the jeung cha method.
Green Tea:
Sparrow's Tongue (Jiri Mountain, Ujeon)
Nokcha (Boseong, Saejak)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Hongcha (Region not specified)
Nothing But Tea
Green Tea:
Korean Green Tea FOP
Postcard Teas
They source their tea from Dong Cheon, a tea cooperative of 88 farmers in the Ssangkye tea producing area. The tea is picked by hand then standardized production methods are used. This green tea is true semi-wild tea produced using machine production and the jeung cha method. Dong Cheon teas are also available from Morning Crane Tea (above), Pheonix Tea Shop (above), and East Teas (above).
Green Tea:
Sparrow's Tongue (Jiri Mountain, Ujeon) (sold out)
Nokcha (Boseong, Saejak)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Korean Breakfast (Dan Cha)
France:
CoreaColor
These guys buy a variety of popular, reputable Hadong and Ssanggye area teas (such as Jukro and Woon Sang) from well known and established Korean producers and sell them for prices comparable to the Korean shelf price. Antique Alive (below) also stocks Woon Sang tea and Good Green Tea (above) stocks Jukro. Le Palais Des Thes (below) also stocks Jukro's Uricha (balhyocha).
Green Tea:
Juk Woojeon 80 (Ujeon)
Juk Woojeon 40 (Ujeon) (sold out)
Woonsejak 80 (Saejak) (sold out)
Woonsejak 40 (Saejak)
Juk Jungjak
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Uricha (sold out)
Gayacha
Le Palais Des Thes
This was probably the first online Westren tea vendor to sell Korean tea. They only carry one Korean tea, Jukro's balhyocha. They have been carrying this famous Korean yellow tea for years. CoreaColor (above) also stocks this tea.
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Jukro Black Tea (Balhyocha)
Germany:
Salacca
These guys offer tea from all of the three main production areas of Korea. From Jeju they offer a tea from O'Sulloc. From Boseong they offer a all hand produced Daejak grade tea. From Hwagae Valley they sell a first pick Ujeon, standard Ujeon, and a saejak- all hand picked and produced using traditional methods and semi-wild leaves. All their teas are believed to be from the 2011 harvest.
Green Tea:
Sulloc Cha Jaksul (Jeju)
Gisancha Daejack (Boseong)
Special Woojun (Hwagae, early Ujeon)
Sejak (Hwagae, Saejak)
Sweden:
House of Tea
This tea company sourced its 2011 Korean tea from a unique producing area, Sacheon. This location near the South Sea located about half way between more traditional tea growing regions of Hadong and Goseong. Their 2012 Korean tea is from Hadong tea producing area.
Green Tea:
Nokcha Hadong Woojeon (sold out)
Nokcha Hadong Saejak
Nokcha Sacheon Woojeon Organic (sold out)
In the Mood for Tea
They source semi-wild Hwagae Valley tea directly from teamaster Kim Jong Yeol (Butea). They carry 2012 harvest green tea and a balhyocha from the 2010 harvest. Kim Jong Yeol (Butea) is also available from Jiri Mountain Tea Company (above), Tea Mountain (above), and O5tea (above).
Green Tea:
Ujeon Green Tea
Sejak Green Tea (sold out)
Jungjak Green Tea (sold out)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized tea):
Balhyocha Top Grade, Hwang-cha (seajak grade- sold out)
Balhyocha, Hwang-cha (jungjak grade)
Te-Centralen
These guys sell Jukro tea, a classic Hwagae Valley tea producer that produces all there tea by hand. Jukro green tea does not sell its tea in bulk so you always receive original packaging and freshness guaranteed. Jukro tea is also available from Good Green Tea (above) CoreaColor (above) Le Palais Des Thes (above). They currently sell 2012 harvest.
Green Tea:
Korea Hadong Woojeon
Korea Hadong Saejak
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized tea):
Korean Hadong Black
Korea:
Antique Alive
These guys operate an exclusively web based store in Korea. They export a lot of Korean things. Some of these things are Jirisan and Hwagae Valley Korean green tea. They buy from famous producers (such as Woon Sang) and sell them at a markup. CoreaColor (above) also sells Woon Sang tea.
Green Tea:
Jirisan Ujeon
Jirisan Saejak
Jirisan Jungjak
Jirisan Daejak (sold out)
Hwagae Valley Ujeon (sold out)
Hwagae Vally Saejak
Jiri Mountain Daejak (sold out)
CoreaColor
These guys buy a variety of popular, reputable Hadong and Ssanggye area teas (such as Jukro and Woon Sang) from well known and established Korean producers and sell them for prices comparable to the Korean shelf price. Antique Alive (below) also stocks Woon Sang tea and Good Green Tea (above) stocks Jukro. Le Palais Des Thes (below) also stocks Jukro's Uricha (balhyocha).
Green Tea:
Juk Woojeon 80 (Ujeon)
Juk Woojeon 40 (Ujeon) (sold out)
Woonsejak 80 (Saejak) (sold out)
Woonsejak 40 (Saejak)
Juk Jungjak
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Uricha (sold out)
Gayacha
Le Palais Des Thes
This was probably the first online Westren tea vendor to sell Korean tea. They only carry one Korean tea, Jukro's balhyocha. They have been carrying this famous Korean yellow tea for years. CoreaColor (above) also stocks this tea.
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Jukro Black Tea (Balhyocha)
Germany:
Salacca
These guys offer tea from all of the three main production areas of Korea. From Jeju they offer a tea from O'Sulloc. From Boseong they offer a all hand produced Daejak grade tea. From Hwagae Valley they sell a first pick Ujeon, standard Ujeon, and a saejak- all hand picked and produced using traditional methods and semi-wild leaves. All their teas are believed to be from the 2011 harvest.
Green Tea:
Sulloc Cha Jaksul (Jeju)
Gisancha Daejack (Boseong)
Special Woojun (Hwagae, early Ujeon)
Sejak (Hwagae, Saejak)
Sweden:
House of Tea
This tea company sourced its 2011 Korean tea from a unique producing area, Sacheon. This location near the South Sea located about half way between more traditional tea growing regions of Hadong and Goseong. Their 2012 Korean tea is from Hadong tea producing area.
Green Tea:
Nokcha Hadong Woojeon (sold out)
Nokcha Hadong Saejak
Nokcha Sacheon Woojeon Organic (sold out)
In the Mood for Tea
They source semi-wild Hwagae Valley tea directly from teamaster Kim Jong Yeol (Butea). They carry 2012 harvest green tea and a balhyocha from the 2010 harvest. Kim Jong Yeol (Butea) is also available from Jiri Mountain Tea Company (above), Tea Mountain (above), and O5tea (above).
Green Tea:
Ujeon Green Tea
Sejak Green Tea (sold out)
Jungjak Green Tea (sold out)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized tea):
Balhyocha Top Grade, Hwang-cha (seajak grade- sold out)
Balhyocha, Hwang-cha (jungjak grade)
Te-Centralen
These guys sell Jukro tea, a classic Hwagae Valley tea producer that produces all there tea by hand. Jukro green tea does not sell its tea in bulk so you always receive original packaging and freshness guaranteed. Jukro tea is also available from Good Green Tea (above) CoreaColor (above) Le Palais Des Thes (above). They currently sell 2012 harvest.
Green Tea:
Korea Hadong Woojeon
Korea Hadong Saejak
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized tea):
Korean Hadong Black
Korea:
Antique Alive
These guys operate an exclusively web based store in Korea. They export a lot of Korean things. Some of these things are Jirisan and Hwagae Valley Korean green tea. They buy from famous producers (such as Woon Sang) and sell them at a markup. CoreaColor (above) also sells Woon Sang tea.
Green Tea:
Jirisan Ujeon
Jirisan Saejak
Jirisan Jungjak
Jirisan Daejak (sold out)
Hwagae Valley Ujeon (sold out)
Hwagae Vally Saejak
Jiri Mountain Daejak (sold out)
Jiri Mountain Tea Company
The owner sources tea from family ran farms in Hwagae. He is on the ground in Hwagae choosing only the teas that he feels are of quality. Therefore his exact source changes from year to year depending on the quality of the harvest. They are the first online vendor to offer 2013 Korean tea, a Ujeon by Lee Deok-Ju. He still has stock of Saejak grade green tea from Oh Si Yeong and balhyocha by Yoon Ja-He and Kim Jong Yeol-Butea.
The owner sources tea from family ran farms in Hwagae. He is on the ground in Hwagae choosing only the teas that he feels are of quality. Therefore his exact source changes from year to year depending on the quality of the harvest. They are the first online vendor to offer 2013 Korean tea, a Ujeon by Lee Deok-Ju. He still has stock of Saejak grade green tea from Oh Si Yeong and balhyocha by Yoon Ja-He and Kim Jong Yeol-Butea.
Green Tea:
2013 Jirisan (Hwagae Valley) Organic Ujeon Nokcha (1st Flush) (Lee Deok-ju)
2012 Jirisan "Hwagae Valley" Organic Saejak (Oh Si Yeong)
2013 Jirisan (Hwagae Valley) Organic Ujeon Nokcha (1st Flush) (Lee Deok-ju)
2012 Jirisan "Hwagae Valley" Organic Saejak (Oh Si Yeong)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
2012 Jirisan "Hwagae Valley" Organic Balhyocha (Saejak grade) (Yoon Ja-Hae)
2012 Jirisan "Hwagae Valley" Organic Balhyocha (Saejak grade) (Yoon Ja-Hae)
Korean Arts
Korean Arts, an exclusively internet based business, exports a bunch of different Korean stuff including boxes of O'sulloc tea (see below). The Se-jak that Korean Arts sells is an O'sulloc premium tea, the other three are generally sold at Korean supermarkets and are not available on the O'sulloc English webpage for purchase. Believe their stock is 2010.
Green Tea:
Se-jak (Se-jak grade) TG002S (Sejac, see below)
Jak-seol (Jung-jak grade) TG003O (Sulloc Jaksul Okrok)
Man-su (Dae-jak grade) TG004M (Sulloc Jaksul Dukgum)
Halla (Dae-jak grade) TG004H (Sulloc Jaksul Jeungjae)
O'sulloc
This is the largest tea producer in Korea and just recently started selling tea to International customers over the internet and apparently has now stopped. This tea is grown primarily grown on Jeju Island and is completely machine processed. Will leave the below names for reference although the links no longer work.
Green Tea:
Okro (shade Grown)
Ujeon
Sejac (Saejak)
Ouksujin (grade unspecified)
Balhyocha (Semi-oxidized Tea):
Seonhyang (lightly oxidized)
Woonhyang (medium oxidized)
Samdayeon (post fermented)
See these posts & comments for more information on the grading system of Korean tea (Ujeon, Saejak, Jungjak):
Categorizing Korean Green Teas: Why We Categorize
Satisfying Marshaln
See these posts for more information on the three main tea producing regions of Korea:
Three Main Tea Producing Areas In Korea: Boseong
Three Main Tea Producing Areas In Korea: Jeju Island
Three Main Tea Producing Areas In Korea: Jiri Mountain
Disambiguation of Jiri Mountain Tea
Edited on Nov 20/2012
Peace
I found your Hankook link quite interesting, simply because it has much more information about the teas they offer, but that site has no real way set up to facilitate ordering. While this site:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hankooktea.com/
Which I think is owned by the same people has very little information on any of their teas, with photos that are honestly not the greatest, yet is set up as their shop.
Adam Yusko,
ReplyDeleteThanks. Will have to add those new links but will probably leave both up in the end. Just as you said, for more information.
Peace
Another vendors from Czech republic:
ReplyDelete"Dobra cajovna" http://www.tea.cz/cajovna/index.php?toc=teainfo&&show=teashop&&toczal=4&&teaid=82
The description on their website is outdated, though, as they sell different Korean green tea every year - informations and photos on their web are referring to their last year's tea. This year, they actually sell Junk jak green tea from Jukro, the one I wrote about on my blog some time ago.
Then, the other shop I know is "Bily Jerab"
http://bily-jerab.cz/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=18&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
They have a selection of four Korean green teas, one is some unspecified "Nokcha" and others are teas from master Shin Gwang-su, sold in 5grams gift packages.
They even have a special website for his teas: http://jagsul.tealeaf.cz/
Terribly useful, thanks Matt.
ReplyDeleteMichal Tallo,
ReplyDeleteWhen compiling the list one couldn't help but feel as though Czech Republic was the hot spot for Korean tea these days. Not only are many shops selling Korean tea, but the Korean tea they sell seems to be of very high quality. Also there seems to me many readers from Czech that stop by here on Mattcha's. Do you feel similarly?
Just a question about those other two Czech vendors: Do you know if they speak/ read English and/or take international orders? Have heard of Bily Jerab before somewhere. It looks like they source real, legitimately 'wild' Korean tea?
Brandon,
It seems like this is the long answer to the commonly asked question "Where can I get Korean tea?" ;)
Peace
You are right about Korean tea in Czech republic, or very high quality tea in general - as I read about availability of these grades of tea in other European and American countries, I can see how easy it is to get really top grades of tea around here, in Czech republic (and, therefore, in Slovak republic too, as many shops here are selling teas from Czech distributors).
ReplyDeleteThough many tea-lovers would disagree with me (as they don't realize what the situation of tea availability outside of these two countries is and think that what we have still isn't enough), tea-culture is really very strong here - or, at least, much stronger than in other European countries, when it comes to high quality loose leaf tea.
Therefore, it's not any problem to get for example even things like handmade 1998 Kuradashi Gyokuro from trusted vendor (Teamountain, in this case), or competition winning grades of Japanese tea, real Long Jing teas from original Long Jing cultivar and so on.
About your question - I'm sure that both people from Bily Jerab and Dobra cajovna speak English, though I'm not sure about international orders - but I think it would be possible to talk to them directly on their mail addresses about it.
Dobra cajovna even runs two teahouses in USA: http://www.dobratea.com/
I think it would be possible to buy their Nokcha in these teahouses, though I'm not absolutely sure.
And yes, it seems like Korean green tea from Bily Jerab really is from genuine wild tea-trees - they claim it to be, at least. The price would pretty much correspond with it, as cost of the highest grade they offer - for five grams - is the same as price of 50g package of Jukro Jungjak from Dobra cajovna. Have you ever heard of master Shin Gwang-su before?
Thank you for putting together such a useful list. Korean Arts (http://www.korean-arts.com/tea_ware/Green%20Teas.htm) sells these four Sulloc teas:
ReplyDeleteHalla (Dae-jak grade)
Man-su (Dae-jak grade)
Jak-seol (Jung-jak grade)
Se-jak (Se-jak grade)
Also, Hancha Tea (www.hanchatea.com) is about to have some early summer Jakseol available. They're an excellent source for traditional Korean single-plant non-Camellia sinensis infusions also, like mulberry leaf and persimmon leaf.
Michal,
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky to be in the center of such movement. Shin Gwang Su is quite a famous teamaster in Korea- The name sounded very familiar then one followed the links ... of course- THAT Shin Gwang Su.
Dobra Cajovna also rung a bell, after looking at their site one remembered that they had Korean tea on their tea menu last year but have since removed it. Will contact Dobra Cajovna and Bily Jerab to see if they take international orders before adding them to the list, it sounds like they offer some great Korean tea.
Cinnabar,
Thanks for the info!
That's right, think you reviewed the Jak-seol (Jungjak) a month back:
http://www.gongfugirl.com/2010/06/sulloc-cha-jakseol-a-green-tea-from-korea/
These O'sulloc teas would be the only tea from the Jeju Island region available from an English speaking vendor- they are completely machine processed teas by the largest Korean tea producer in Korea and offer a slightly different feel than most other Korea teas.
That means that English speakers could order tea from the three main producing regions of Korea (Boseong and Hadong are the other two) by going through two different vendors.
Will contact Hancha to get more info on their loose leaf tea before posting them on the list.
Thanks for stopping by and contributing- good luck with that charcoal stove of yours ;)
Peace
Adam Yusko,
ReplyDeleteDecided not to include the links to the other Hankook Tea Company's English site because it looks like it hasn't been updated in years. If anyone is interested you can snoop around here though:
http://www.hankooktea.co.kr/eng/html/company.htm
Hope to add a few more to this list in a few days when some of the other vendors that were contacted by email reply.
Peace
Matt,
ReplyDeletejust wanted to let you know that the Hadong Saejak Nokcha offered by Darjeeling.cz unfortunately already got sold out completely and it seems like they aren't going to sell it anymore - as far as I know, it was just a one-time seasonal offering, brought from their trip to Korea.
That is, for now, minus one vendor, I guess. Hopefully they will get some good Korean green tea next year as well.
Matt,
ReplyDeleteI did happen to find another I believe North American vendor. Though they offer relatively little information that tea entusiasts love. http://www.hanchatea.com/
Michal,
ReplyDeleteWill keep them on the list with the assumption that they will source new Korean tea yearly. Still waiting for a reply from the other two Czech tea dealers.
Adam Yusko,
Cinnabar above mentioned them. They have also been contacted. Just waiting for more information about the source and grade of the tea they sell.
Peace
I found this online store that carries Hankook tea.
ReplyDeleteThey offer free shipping
http://www.goodgreentea.net
Peace
Jay Sawa,
ReplyDeleteIt looks like it is somehow affiliated with Hankook but with free shipping & samples with every order!
Thanks Jay. Will add it to the list within the next few days.
Wow! That list is really getting big... never thought there were so many English sites selling Korean tea out there.
Peace
Matt, a question: I'm familiar with and have in fact ordered baozhongs (and some lovely bamboo coasters) from Shan Shui and have always been intrigued by his Korean selection. Descriptions of two competition grades of greens--tukseon and tukpoom--are provided but searches for these terms only yield results from the Shan Shui site. I'm guessing that if anyone can shed light on this, you can--are you familiar with these grades? Do they even exist?
ReplyDeleteKaren,
ReplyDeleteKorean tea is categorized primarily by the 24 seasonal divisions. Ujeon, is picked on or before Gogu (April 20th). All tea picked before Gogu is classified as Ujeon. This classification is somewhat problematic because Ujeon can be picked earlier and later and even two pickings of it can occur before saejak season arrives depending on the season and location of the tea plants.
As a result almost all tea companies offer "Premium Ujeon" usually packaged pretty and given poetic names. They are often the very first days of growth and more care is given- naturally they are very small batches. These are the kind of teas that are usually given as gifts because their prices are astronomical, not the kind of tea you can drink everyday. These Ujeons from Shan Shui are likely these types of Ujeon.
Here is a post on one of these types of teas by Jookro:
http://mattchasblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/its-whats-inside-that-counts-2007.html
Peace
Matt,
ReplyDeletethis is really incredibly useful. So many thanks for compiling this (and I'm sure it took quite a while).
Just to let you know that in the UK, Postcard Teas and Eassteas are sister companies run by two partners and the Korean teas they offer are exactly the same. They should be listed under Eassteas I think.
Wojciech Bońkowski,
ReplyDeleteThanks, will make the noted changes.
Peace
Hi Matt,
ReplyDeletea quick note - Darjeeling.cz updated their offering of Hadong tea just a while ago and now offers three 2011 teas, Ujeon, Saejak and yellow tea:
http://www.darjeeling.cz/en/green-teas/ujeon-jakseolcha-sparrows-tongue-2011-329
http://www.darjeeling.cz/en/green-teas/nokcha-sejak-2011-hadong-green-tea-206
http://www.darjeeling.cz/en/black-teas/hwangcha-yellow-tea-243
Personally, I haven't tasted this year's harvest of these teas yet, but I thought I would let you know for the purpose of this list.
All,
ReplyDeleteCheck out the recent Swedish additions to the list of Korean teas. See Sparris' posts on them here:
http://blekte.blogspot.se/search/label/Korea
for a better idea of what Korean teas they offer.
Peace
Hi Matt,
ReplyDeleteI have recently opened an online store focusing on Korean tea at http://whitemountaintea.co.uk
Things are starting off fairly small - currently stocking Jukro's Jungjak (unfortunately, not in their lovely boxes!) and Dongcheon's Daejak and Sejak teas, all 2013. If there's enough interest, hopefully in the future I'll be able to stock a wider variety, along with some Korean tisanes too.
Best Wishes,
Kevin