Reviews Posted by Karen Kletter

Products Rating Read Date Added
[Limited] KOUJI SOBA BOLO (rice malt buckwheat cookies)   Out of Stock
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
2118 02/12/2018
I have a liking for rather plain sweets and I knew from the product description that Kouji Soba Bolo would perfectly suit my taste. The cookies are very crisp, melt in one's mouth, and their mild, malty sweetness is offset by the hearty mineral notes of the soba flour. ...(more)
SHOHRYU Yuzamashi (handcrafted: 280ml)
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
2745 07/06/2017
I've had my eye on this yuzamashi for YEARS, ever since I first became a Hibiki-an customer. I always put off buying it and, wanting one, checked other vendors as well. None pleased me as much as this one, so I finally bit the bullet and couldn't be more delighted. The ...(more)
OHIGASHI (handmade confectionary)
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
7656 08/14/2016
My first experience with Japanese confection of this type and everything the description promises--lovely to behold and exceptionally smooth. While undoubtedly an excellent complement to usucha (I'm looking forward to cha-do classes soon), a single piece is also a nice ...(more)
[Limited] Gyokuro Konacha Super Premium (100g/3.53oz)
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
4556 04/10/2014
I'm a fan of konacha (and other "by-product" teas) who has been a Hibiki-an customer for quite a few years. The availability of their konacha offerings escaped my notice in 2013 but caught my eye and piqued my interest this year. For those who've not sampled ...(more)
[Limited] Tencha Super Premium (30g/1.06oz)   Out of Stock
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
4280 08/28/2009
I'm delighted that Hibiki-an decided to offer tencha this year, both as Shincha Gyokuro and now this Super Premium. The dry leaves yield an intense, flowery fragrance that accurately fulfills its promise of an exceptional tea experience. I always brew tea for a bit les...(more)
Matcha Pinnacle (30g/1.06oz)
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
7738 06/03/2009
I had the good fortune--courtesy of my dear friend, Amy--to compare this matcha with another Uji matcha that is considered among the best available. While both teas were sublime and although the other tea produced a slightly better froth (both had been sifted), Matcha P...(more)
[Limited] Shincha Fukamushi (80g/2.82oz)   Out of Stock
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
4765 06/03/2009
I'm very partial to fukamushi, which can present something of a problem--I haven't found much out there that meets my satisfaction. I love Hibiki-an's Super Premium Fukamushi, so I've been meaning to try this (I missed it last year). Shincha Fukamushi is superb. It's s...(more)
Houjicha Karigane (200g/7.05oz)
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
9079 10/11/2008
Excellent! The best houjicha I've ever had--sweet and nutty, it's especially comforting now that the weather is getting cooler (try adding just a sliver of fresh ginger for another dimension of enjoyment). I get three nice infusions brewing at the minimum time--don't fo...(more)
[Limited] Kuradashi Gyokuro Super Premium (40g/1.41oz)   Out of Stock
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
5330 09/26/2008
Kuradashi Gyokuro Super Premium is sublime, period. Everyone to whom I've served it has been blown away and at least one friend will be ordering his own this season. It's intensely rich, savory, and sweet--very autumnal in flavor and spirit. It's unique and in a class o...(more)
[Limited] Competition Grade Sencha Pinnacle (40g/1.41oz)   Out of Stock
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
4087 01/11/2008
I've enjoyed (and reviewed) Sencha Pinnacle and, as good as it is, I think this runs rings around it. Amazingly, this really does taste like a complex blend of gyokuro and sencha and succeeds in achieving the best of both worlds (at least to this relative rookie--I've o...(more)
Whisk Keeper (Kusenaoshi)
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
8754 01/10/2008
I realized not long after I bought a chasen that this was essential if I wanted to keep it in usable condition. I considered this one and a wooden one I saw on another site and decided in favor of this one because damp bamboo on ceramic seems somehow more sanitary and l...(more)
House Matcha (80g/2.82oz)
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
7762 12/19/2007
I had three reasons for ordering House Matcha: I wanted a matcha that was both affordable and delicious that I could use for recipes; I was curious to learn whether or not it was good for everyday consumption; and I wanted to compare it to the koicha a friend brought me...(more)
Sencha Pinnacle (40g/1.41oz)
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
11358 11/06/2007
I was disappointed in this tea the first time I prepared it. I followed Mr. Yasui's instructions to the letter, brewing for a total of one minute at 80C (176F), and found it extremely bitter (in fact, I could taste nothing else). I decided to drop the water to 75C (167F...(more)
Genmaicha (200g/7.05oz)
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
8986 10/27/2007
I'm not a genmaicha drinker but a close friend is, so I ordered this as a surprise in anticipation of a visit. He was delighted with my gift, and mentioned that during a recent trip to Japan, he'd found it difficult to find genmaicha due to the fact that most Tokyo vend...(more)
Iced Sencha
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
8485 07/10/2007
I recently purchased some Sencha Karigane (see review) and had a hunch that it might make good iced tea. The temperature and humidity spiked recently here in NYC, so I decided to give it a shot. For my first attempt, I used my Hohryu (see review) to brew 12g of karigan...(more)
Sencha Karigane (200g/7.05oz)
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
11131 07/08/2007
This is wonderful stuff. I'm very happy with Hibiki-an's Gyokuro Karigane Premium, but I wanted to try a karigane that was made entirely from sencha leaves and veins (my understanding is that almost all karigane contains gyokuro). I correspond with another Hibiki-an cus...(more)
[Seasonal] Iced Teapot (1,000ml)
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
5205 06/09/2007
This Iced Tea Pot comprised my third order from Hibiki-an, so I'd first like to write a few words about the transaction itself. I placed my order for this pitcher last Thursday evening and received an immediate confirmation. 43 MINUTES LATER, I received notice that my ...(more)
[Limited] Farmers' Shincha (160g/5.64oz)   Out of Stock
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
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  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
4089 05/16/2007
I enjoy things that are not only of excellent quality but are interesting and unusual as well. On this basis, I decided to order Farmer's Shincha because I trust Hibiki-an's quality, plus it's not something one sees offered as a matter of course (my interest was piqued)...(more)
[Try it!] Sencha Fukamushi Super Premium (40g/1.41oz)
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
7286 05/15/2007
This tea, which is part of my second Hibiki-an order, is both interesting and exquisite. I'll try to elaborate. My first infusion was for the recommended 40 seconds (which for me means letting it brew for 10 seconds since it takes me about 30 seconds to decant what's i...(more)
Gyokuro Karigane Premium (100g/3.53oz)
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
9094 05/01/2007
Gyokuro Karigane Premium and a Hohryu kyusu (for which I've also written a review) comprised my first order with Hibiki-an. As I stated in my review of the kyusu, it won't be my last. I'm new to tea (
HOHRYU Kyusu (handcrafted: 360ml)   Out of Stock
  • Very bad...
  • Bad...
  • Very bad...
  • Ordinary...
  • Good...
7623 05/01/2007
My Hohryu was part of my first order from Hibiki-an; I can guarantee that it won't be my last. I'm new to tea (< 1 year, my love of which isn't restricted to Japanese greens, or greens at all, for that matter) and quickly learned that different teas from different co...(more)