Japanese Bancha

We have no Bancha in stock at the moment. There is still some Bancha Houghicha - toasted Bancha.

Bancha is a delicious, refreshing and full-flavoured green tea.  It is absolutely full of goodness and the list of known health benefits seems to grow every year.  I just drink it for its excellent, fairly strong flavour, often described as woody or toasty.  If you are new to green tea I think this is an excellent one to start with.

When Japanese tea is harvested, the main first flush plucking is known as Sencha.  Bancha is a later, second flush or autumnal plucking, and much larger leaves are plucked.  In fact this is sometimes known as “3-year tea” as leaves up to 3 years old are plucked.  This is in marked contrast to virtually all other teas, where only “2 leaves and a bud” are allowed into the basket.  (Kukicha is harvested at the same time as Bancha, but consists of the twigs and stems whereas Bancha is the leaves).

This tea is rather little drunk in Japan these days, except by the mountain tea farmers who drink large quantities of it.  Bancha simply means “ordinary tea” in Japanese and it is perhaps looked down on slightly in comparison with Sencha and other teas.  I think this is missing the point a little though.  It is certainly cheaper, which has enabled it to reach a market outside Japan at reasonable cost, but whilst it is technically inferior it has qualities of its own which I think make it very useful.  I personally am very fond of Bancha.

Bancha therefore has a very different character to Sencha and to other teas – it is woody, earthy and wholesome, and because it is much fuller-flavoured than Sencha it is perfect for drinking with food, as it has the strength of flavour to stand up to the food.  It is less sweet than Sencha, which some prefer.  Overall the taste, though certainly less refined, is more rounded and developed than with other green teas.

The health benefits of Green tea are gradually becoming more widely-known.  Studies have shown that it increases the rate at which the body burns fat, helps weight loss, enhances performance and has strong antioxidant properties.  Bancha has an additional advantage – it contains very large quantities of Vitamin P, a flavonoid, which strengthens the walls of small blood vessels.  Bancha is very low in caffeine so is a good evening drink.

To enjoy Bancha at its best put one teaspoon of tea per person in a pot.  Pour on fresh, boiling water and brew for just 20 seconds.  The same leaves can be used for several brewings.

If you love Japanese Bancha you will probably also enjoy another Japanese Green tea,  Sencha Fukujyu which has a milder, more subtle, slightly sweet flavour.  Or how aboutGenmaicha, which is Bancha with toasted rice and popcorn added?