Fountain Pens

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsm4EYSM8NsrvyYbOnx16Bv5DiV43FRsmkWL2AjeYnKAV7rKlhbtHFv7fo0wwwHJYuG394w6sTQzRdnlo4-glaGZb54vT4qt9q36zLSzFe07kwE7AdUsrVRTpGfCJ6406ylgzqDlW3PU4/s1600/IMG_5486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsm4EYSM8NsrvyYbOnx16Bv5DiV43FRsmkWL2AjeYnKAV7rKlhbtHFv7fo0wwwHJYuG394w6sTQzRdnlo4-glaGZb54vT4qt9q36zLSzFe07kwE7AdUsrVRTpGfCJ6406ylgzqDlW3PU4/s200/IMG_5486.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>As I mentioned in <a href="http://dailyacquisition.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2012-08-18T07:24:00-07:00&max-results=7" target="_blank">this post</a>, I recently acquired a Platinum Preppy fountain pen. I admit that I bought the Preppy merely as a super low cost entry into the fountain pen world, and with low expectations. Seriously, how good can a $3.00 plastic fountain pen be? Nonetheless, I intentionally delayed its "maiden voyage" and kept it pristine and unused for awhile. Why? I didn't want to open the floodgates and let loose yet another acquisition disorder, but I eventually caved in, took it for a test drive, and said hello to FPAD (Fountain Pen Acquisition Disorder). The Preppy served its purpose honorably, and convinced me to look for a better fountain pen. After weeks of research and analysis paralysis, I finally pulled the trigger and bought the awesome looking pen you see in the picture: the Lamy Vista (extra fine nib).<br /><br />The Internet is replete with reviews, videos, and comparisons of the Lamy Safari (Vista = transparent version of the Safari), and I don't have enough experience with fountain pens to add any meaningful content. Instead, I'll explain how I arrived at the decision to buy the Vista.<br /><br />Me_1: "This Platinum Preppy isn't as smooth as I'd like, it writes a little dry, and it skips every now and then. Moreover, the cap has already cracked and the written line width is kinda thick, even though I have a fine nib on it."<br /><br />Me_2: "Dude, it cost $3.00. Get over it and buy something better."<br /><br />Me_1/2: "Sounds like a good idea. Let's do some research to find a few candidates. I guess my budget is around $50.00 because I'm still not 100% convinced that I like fountain pens. OK, after spending way too much time online, these look pretty good: Kaweco Sport; Pilot Prera; Lamy Safari; Sailor Lecoule; and Twsbi 540. Let's pick one."<br /><br />Me_1: "I'm going to read some threads on <a href="http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/" target="_blank">The Fountain Pen Network</a> and watch YouTube video reviews before I make a decision. I'm also going to create an online poll to see what fountain pen experts recommend. Perhaps I'll try to demo these pens in a brick and mortar store. Ooh, I really like the demonstrator/transparent pens."<br /><br />Me_2: "I like the Prera the best. It looks super slick, Pilot has a great reputation, the cap prevents the nib from drying out, and it comes with a converter thingy."<br /><br />Me_1: "I like the Lamy Safari. It gets great reviews and everyone recommends it for a beginner fountain pen. Plus, it's less than $30.00 and it comes in many different colors, including the transparent Vista version. By the way, the Prera is overpriced, and you can get the same nib on the Pilot 78G pen, which only costs $10.00. I don't care about a converter because I'm going to use ink cartridges for awhile."<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4yncKzuwsjQRck0wUAL-DnnPqQMWkaj-cUfO1aekmiKoSwo3U8xNajDXyZTMHY0SQsB93aB1DYJVv7oxcFELMeJUgVnz-owa0-mtFAEUTnzVviCoaCgfaRQ2KuTcZYlbMaY2tsyFPBQ/s1600/IMG_5487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4yncKzuwsjQRck0wUAL-DnnPqQMWkaj-cUfO1aekmiKoSwo3U8xNajDXyZTMHY0SQsB93aB1DYJVv7oxcFELMeJUgVnz-owa0-mtFAEUTnzVviCoaCgfaRQ2KuTcZYlbMaY2tsyFPBQ/s200/IMG_5487.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lamy Vista</td></tr></tbody></table>Me_2: "Whatever. The Lamy is too long, the extra fine nib is too wide for me, and the triangular grip section is wack (I concede that the Vista looks pretty cool). I don't care what the online poll says, I'm buying the Prera. In blue trim. The Japanese know their pens."<br /><br />Me_1: "Just listen to all the fountain pen experts. They all say Lamy. It's no contest. Moreover, the Lamy is much cheaper than the Prera, which will reduce the likelihood of buyer's remorse. The Germans know their pens, too."<br /><br />Me_1/2: "Alright, I'll take a look at the interactive comparison tools on the <a href="http://www.gouletpens.com/" target="_blank">Goulet Pens</a> website, flip a coin, or whatever, and will order the Pilot Prera. Or the Lamy Vista. Or the Pilot Prera. OK, this is ridiculous, delete the Prera from the shopping cart and get the Vista instead. But the Prera looks SO cool. Sure, but the design is juvenile. Arrrggggghh. Lamy Vista!"<br /><br />I'm really glad the above-described ordeal is over. The Vista is simply a beautiful and well-designed pen. I even like the clip, which some people hate (pro tip: the pen is balanced such that it can assume a planking position resting on the clip). The Vista writes more consistently and looks much nicer than the Preppy.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoOuVF8lhc5rXBlbmYL-2FmtmrSdYkblipHE3wcjhIwCW47nsSufu3u6lS6oLgpjK9FqRzurDuLzlcS99EKUw3nOt1SYcP3FsSlxhGRtJs9jJEHMNDPfTg2JW5JHroZewxMQcdRC7ILY/s1600/IMG_5483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoOuVF8lhc5rXBlbmYL-2FmtmrSdYkblipHE3wcjhIwCW47nsSufu3u6lS6oLgpjK9FqRzurDuLzlcS99EKUw3nOt1SYcP3FsSlxhGRtJs9jJEHMNDPfTg2JW5JHroZewxMQcdRC7ILY/s200/IMG_5483.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploded View</td></tr></tbody></table>My pre-purchase research made me realize that people like to see writing samples. I want to feel like a member of the fountain pen community, so I've included a few samples of my sketchy block printing. I don't remember when I gave up writing in cursive, and I don't remember when I gave up writing in lowercase. Regardless, the end result is my boring ALL CAPS writing style. You can find the writing samples at the bottom of this post.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>PS - even though I probably could have saved a few bucks or found free shipping elsewhere, I decided to patronize Goulet Pens because I found their online tools, FAQs, and "Fountain of Knowledge" to be extremely helpful. If you are a fountain pen beginner like me, I encourage you to pay Goulet Pens a visit.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Writing Samples</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="text-align: left;">First up is an entire page of Lamy Vista goodness (or badness, depending on your perspective): </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDmm5MoPdTvLJ-4y-LivAyctZOTkV6B1qn62eX12y9rdwovrXmhXvz7DH7wLajWs-CBYDDBDLykrG8MzPKhft-gRi8wtk5F6fESbPH7Re0-hhz1PXni713Yfu0n73I-8xQN3ZoxLsocc/s1600/20120910_sample_4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDmm5MoPdTvLJ-4y-LivAyctZOTkV6B1qn62eX12y9rdwovrXmhXvz7DH7wLajWs-CBYDDBDLykrG8MzPKhft-gRi8wtk5F6fESbPH7Re0-hhz1PXni713Yfu0n73I-8xQN3ZoxLsocc/s320/20120910_sample_4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lamy Vista on Moleskine Paper</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I thought it might be useful to show samples using different types of paper and different pens. Unfortunately, I don't own any "good" paper, so feel free to break out the lulz. Next up are some writing samples on cheap notepad paper: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKZjuJpMOr_Sj1eNSJyWfnKkE7R03tGTeXkFJUXfL3kLqda2DOixX8dPsrL7IUVi3o2B_DJ2CEMmjyCviQFy4roYYH-2iQpcEKvSZ7x6GzJCHT9zQFvSKOJpO8oNnGEgMTcrbnxJmQ4g/s1600/20120910_sample_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKZjuJpMOr_Sj1eNSJyWfnKkE7R03tGTeXkFJUXfL3kLqda2DOixX8dPsrL7IUVi3o2B_DJ2CEMmjyCviQFy4roYYH-2iQpcEKvSZ7x6GzJCHT9zQFvSKOJpO8oNnGEgMTcrbnxJmQ4g/s320/20120910_sample_1.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crappy Notepad Paper</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I repeated my writing on a different notepad that said "Diamond" on it. The paper is definitely thicker and of higher quality, but I don't know how it compares to the good stuff known to those in the fountain pen world: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYQtSkRurvzdTC6h-grRbNoU0VDp5PQ1nhBAZEKaJMGF02XNN0h9UTGwxtZgHeEjrZpyjIiPjhl84lsc4QmgsD_-FEQUbcs3u31oB5FsrJdfA3kdNtEwHKG5VkxwBvCtujjY80InJ3W4/s1600/20120910_sample_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYQtSkRurvzdTC6h-grRbNoU0VDp5PQ1nhBAZEKaJMGF02XNN0h9UTGwxtZgHeEjrZpyjIiPjhl84lsc4QmgsD_-FEQUbcs3u31oB5FsrJdfA3kdNtEwHKG5VkxwBvCtujjY80InJ3W4/s320/20120910_sample_2.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not-So-Crappy Notepad Paper</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Finally, an attempt to squeeze some writing onto a single page in my Moleskine notebook: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlT-ln0fgnEbO4DXXi1-XZQ7mrcKKwfe4bQ6a-_fUM-n4kMDqGz8HypMNdQXy2KTcJsqSg4I23T-Od8zO8CxAK2wQ8Vp0cKnD8w8j2BkQRdmrhEmIOah_9rAk1oqNaTZlX5VAsaQDY524/s1600/20120910_sample_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlT-ln0fgnEbO4DXXi1-XZQ7mrcKKwfe4bQ6a-_fUM-n4kMDqGz8HypMNdQXy2KTcJsqSg4I23T-Od8zO8CxAK2wQ8Vp0cKnD8w8j2BkQRdmrhEmIOah_9rAk1oqNaTZlX5VAsaQDY524/s320/20120910_sample_3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comparison on Moleskine Paper</td></tr></tbody></table>

Fountain Pens

As I mentioned in this post , I recently acquired a Platinum Preppy fountain pen. I admit that I bought the Preppy merely as a super low cos...

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EDC Pens

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpPB_NS40B6Mcdg915B-jXxEyBl0K5y7HafN5PBm3iPuRp0fBaib8uTZoNtMku9pJ6AVKRQOJ7fc9J2ZCEtGF77qsAPAmESfYmmT9IrnUh092yhcixFjK7WhjrprBub4Wk3FSSrStb-k/s1600/IMG_5396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpPB_NS40B6Mcdg915B-jXxEyBl0K5y7HafN5PBm3iPuRp0fBaib8uTZoNtMku9pJ6AVKRQOJ7fc9J2ZCEtGF77qsAPAmESfYmmT9IrnUh092yhcixFjK7WhjrprBub4Wk3FSSrStb-k/s200/IMG_5396.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>If you look carefully in the stack o' pens shown in this <a href="http://dailyacquisition.blogspot.com/2012/08/pens.html" target="_blank">previous post</a>, you might see the four compact little pens in the picture to the right.  I bought these pens (coincidentally, all of them are Zebra brand pens) in an attempt to find a decent EDC item to keep with me in my pocket, on my keychain, etc.<br /><br />Yeah, yeah, I know about the super popular Inka keychain pen, but have some reservations about it (after spending a few days reading online reviews of it, as though it's a luxury vehicle or a major appliance). Instead, I opted for the following, shown left to right in the picture: Zebra F-301 Compact ballpoint; Zebra Minna Mini ballpoint; Zebra SL-F1 Mini ballpoint; and Zebra Penpod ballpoint.<br /><div><br /></div><div>The F-301 Compact is based on the regular F-301, which is good for a ballpoint. It has a lanyard hole to accommodate keychain carry, but I think it's too long to keep with my keys in my pocket. When closed, the cap is very secure, but when posted on the end it is really wobbly and shaky. When the cap is posted, the pen is virtually a full sized pen. This makes it comfortable to write with, but an EDC pen for me will typically be used only for quick notes and reminders. All of these factors put the F-301 Compact in last place for me.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Minna is super thin and compact, and I like the design even though it's a little feminine. It might be tough to see in the picture, but there is a very cool Japanese style graphic in a clear window section of the barrel.  The body is very thin, and most of the pen fits inside the cap when closed. I like how the ends are rounded and the thin body makes this easy to keep in my jeans coin pocket.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll take the SL-F1 Mini for the win here.  This pen is weighty (I believe it has a metal construction), compact, and sleek.  The gray color is nice, and it does come in other colorways.  The pen telescopes to reveal the tip and to extend the body.  The extended length is somewhat short, but still OK to write with for a quick note or two.  When closed, it fits perfectly in my jeans coin pocket.  Moreover, pen has a deep carry clip configuration, which I like better than the shallower clip found on the Minna.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Penpod is a good option if you really want to carry something on your keychain.  I don't, and the girth and deployment mechanism of the Penpod make it less than perfect for pocket carry.  The pen itself is spring loaded and a quick twist releases it from the cap, which stays on the keyring.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I wasted a few dollars and a whole lot of online research time to realize that the Zebra SL-F1 is nearly perfect for my needs.  It usually lives in my jeans coin pocket (or in some other pocket when I'm not wearing jeans) and it's so small that I don't even notice it.</div>

EDC Pens

If you look carefully in the stack o' pens shown in this  previous post , you might see the four compact little pens in the picture to t...

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The Process (Continued)

I already explained the overall acquisition process <a href="http://dailyacquisition.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-acquisition-process-flow.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but wanted to supplement the process a little. The original flow chart does not adequately illustrate the fact that I tend to become somewhat knowledgeable in a number of typically meaningless or strange areas, but fall very short of becoming an expert or power user in any one of those areas. I will devote a lot of time and effort to get up to speed and familiar with some random and (to most people) ridiculous topic, such that I can truthfully say that I'm "interested" in the subject. I might become more involved with something to the point where it elevates to "hobby" status, but that doesn't occur very often. I suppose my goal is to discover interesting things (whether they are cool, trendy, geeky, or obscure) and get fairly educated about them to the point where I can spend a little bit of money on something that might brighten the usual day-to-day mundane work week. I guess I'm cheap and want to get the most bang for my buck. So, I'll develop at least a baseline understanding of a topic such that I can BUY and enjoy something without getting too obsessed or ridiculously committed.<br /><br />This behavior often results in loss of interest and boredom with a subject, sometimes followed by renewed interest, and so on. This explains why most of my posts thus far relate to pens. Really? Pens? Well, yeah, because pens are the current hot topic here at The Daily Acquisition. I'll get over the pen phase soon enough and will turn to something else.

The Process (Continued)

I already explained the overall acquisition process here , but wanted to supplement the process a little. The original flow chart does not a...

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Valet Tray

This is a perfect example of the acquisition snowball effect. I've recently become slightly interested in the <a href="http://dailyacquisition.blogspot.com/2012/08/edc-every-day-carry.html" target="_blank">EDC concept</a>, which basically means that you ought to carry as much usually-needless crap on your person to be prepared for those unusual situations where you actually need that crap. So, instead of merely carrying a wallet, keys, a few coins, and a phone on a daily basis, my EDC haul now includes an assortment of gear. I used to stash EVERYTHING on a little keychain shelf in the hallway. Life was simple back then (OK, just a few months ago, but whatever). Simple. Well, I outgrew that little shelf and didn't like seeing all of my EDC items randomly strewn on the counter top, my dresser, my nightstand, etc.  Problem solved with a quick visit to Amazon (have I mentioned that Amazon Prime is the Devil?), where I found this here "Ryan 10" Valet Tray" for a more than reasonable $17.95.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjtByyuUax2IjXAAe41IsIr4VKjAtC0CrgOueyuGyHTpWXsIv_b_T_x3isiBYZta5gP8aVGrsVECNiEp3cVdRUIK7VsDoPz4hCj2_xDU6hD6a2NhfkMI9j0_wUcmP3_aDYeB1E5Cz4QE/s1600/IMG_5436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjtByyuUax2IjXAAe41IsIr4VKjAtC0CrgOueyuGyHTpWXsIv_b_T_x3isiBYZta5gP8aVGrsVECNiEp3cVdRUIK7VsDoPz4hCj2_xDU6hD6a2NhfkMI9j0_wUcmP3_aDYeB1E5Cz4QE/s320/IMG_5436.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Ryan</td></tr></tbody></table>OK, "valet tray" is just a manly way of saying <cough cough> "jewelry box" for man gear; I get it. Note that I was actually about to pull the trigger on a more ridiculous tray that was closer to $50.00, but in a moment of strength and power overcame my usual compulsive purchasing behavior and "settled" for the less expensive and more practical item you see in the picture.<br /><br />As you can see, my friend Ryan has a few stash pockets, one larger pocket with a lid, and a coin compartment that looks like a micro skateboarding halfpipe. The curved profile makes it easier to swipe your coins outta there - brilliant! Now everyone is happy, and each EDC item has its own little home away from me.

Valet Tray

This is a perfect example of the acquisition snowball effect. I've recently become slightly interested in the EDC concept , which basica...

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Matcha

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRYFxCLgM-dkGjuR6QeXcmuG0Q3nnMoz9JJrOcTuKJ44VqSgtXvuDMrxhpreBvVOQ88XplBnM87jSgQJCrXFsTUXWTBZIUqwq2_2Fcz6olSndTyly0OcdygmsG-XllvV1IQjaN5N5qYw/s1600/IMG_5454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRYFxCLgM-dkGjuR6QeXcmuG0Q3nnMoz9JJrOcTuKJ44VqSgtXvuDMrxhpreBvVOQ88XplBnM87jSgQJCrXFsTUXWTBZIUqwq2_2Fcz6olSndTyly0OcdygmsG-XllvV1IQjaN5N5qYw/s320/IMG_5454.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>Our friends at U.S. Customs and Border Protection were nice enough to release a Japanese origin package addressed to me. What could it be? Jeans? Razor blades? Headphones? A new batch of pens? Erasers that resemble ramen? No. The package came from <a href="http://www.ippodo-tea.co.jp/en/" target="_blank">Ippodo Tea</a>. Their brochure says that "Ippodo Tea Co. is a Kyoto-based purveyor of premium Japanese green tea - matcha, gyokuro, sencha, and bancha - cultivated in the lush fields of Kyoto. It was founded almost three centuries ago by a merchant named Ihei Watanabe who moved from Omi province (now Shiga prefecture) to Kyoto and opened a shop called Omiya on Teramachi Street in 1717. In 1846, Prince Yamashina bestowed upon the shop the name Ippodo, literally meaning "establishment that preserves one (tea)," in the hope that the high quality of the shop's tea would always be maintained." Well well well, a little full of themselves are they?</div><div><br />Anyhow, I bought two 20-gram cans of matcha: Wakamatsu-no-mukashi (extra-premium quality); and Horai-no-mukashi (premium quality). I recently got into matcha as a natural progression of my interest in green tea, which will be the topic of a future post for sure. It took me a long time to gather the "courage" to try matcha because my research (lots of it) led me to believe that matcha is too expensive, a real hassle to prepare, and foul tasting. I was wrong. You see, part of matcha's allure lies in its natural vibrant green color and characteristic aroma and <i>umami</i>. In the middle of the Edo period, Uji tea masters developed the modern method of producing sencha, which is characterized by its clear, golden yellow color, refined mellow fragrance and refreshing flavor. In the latter half of the Edo period, they devised a method for producing gyokuro, known for its characteristic fragrance and <i>umami</i>. These techniques, all of which were developed in Uji, have been passed down to the present day, and now form the basis and tradition of virtually all modern-day Japanese green tea production methods. (OK, I plagiarized the last four sentences from Ippodo's brochure. Sounds awesome, doesn't it?)</div><div><br /></div><div>It should be mentioned that I am an absolute matcha noob. I've only had two other cans of matcha before these two. I'm still experimenting and trying to find the sweet spot of quality versus cost. Based on price alone, both of these should be "better" than the previous two I've tried. We'll see.</div>

Matcha

Our friends at U.S. Customs and Border Protection were nice enough to release a Japanese origin package addressed to me. What could it be? J...

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