Bancha Tea

Bancha Tea is a Japanese green tea that will dazzle you with its green tea health benefits and woody taste. It's your everyday drink: toasty, inexpensive, energetic, strong and low in caffeine! Do you want to introduce your children to tea and allow them to cherish the amazing health benefits, but not worry about the caffeine intake?

Bancha may just be the right tea for it!

It’s time for another green tea adventure. Come with us as we unveil the magical world of Bancha.

What is Bancha Tea?

As we mentioned before, Bancha tea is a Japanese green tea, which comes to life after the second flush of sencha, between summer and autumn. Its leaves are older and coarse, because it is harvested later. As a result, it is considered the lowest grade of green tea. However, don’t let this influence you!

You have 22 grades of bancha tea, waiting to be discovered. An exquisite woody flavour and a yellowish colour embellished with a unique aroma that will delight your senses.

Bancha tea offers you two subtypes: Hojicha and Genmaicha, two surprising beverages that combine the powerful green tea antioxidants with a unique refreshing flavour.

Let’s have a look at these medicinal teas and find out what makes them so interesting.

Hojicha

Hojicha is usually made from bancha or sencha tea leaves or even kukicha twigs and roasted in a porcelain pot over charcoal at high temperatures. This curious technique will give Hojicha its reddish-brown colour and a toasty flavour. Try this earthy drink during or after meals.

It will make you feel refreshed and healthy. Your body and soul will be smiling with you.

Due to the roasting process at high temperatures the level of caffeine and catechins is lower.

Genmaicha

How about popcorn tea? Yes, you heard it right.

Genmaicha or brown rice tea, can also be called popcorn tea due to rice popping during the roasting process. This Japanese tea is made from Bancha green tea leaves and Genmai, which is roasted rice grain. Again it is great to drink it during or after meals. It goes well with all foods, especially Japanese ones.

It will intensify your senses and take you in a fascinating trip.

It has low caffeine content, due to the roasting process and the type of leaves that are used, so drink it every time you wish, even at night and cherish the tranquillity and peace it offers you.

Now imagine how amazing this combination is... a fresh grassy flavour and a nutty toasted aroma, embellished with an enchanting yellowish light colour.

Being a green tea, Bancha is filled with green tea properties such as theanine, catechins, flavonoids, vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids. All these compounds bring numerous health benefits.

Before you prepare your tea, sit comfortably and join us while we explore the amazing world of tea benefits.

Bancha Tea Health Benefits

• Caffeine alternative
  
  Because it is harvested late in the season and the leaves are broad and course, the caffeine amount is very low, so if you are looking for a caffeine alternative, here is a healthier choice for you. It is also a good way to introduce your kids to tea. Try serving Bancha at meals, instead of fizzy drinks. It will improve your digestion and make you feel healthier.


• Stronger heart
  
  Although the presence of catechins is less significant, it still protects your heart from cardiovascular diseases by lowering LDL and improving the ratio between good and bad cholesterol.


• Green Tea to lose weight
  
  As you may know, green tea is a fantastic fat burner and it helps you to lose those extra pounds, if combined with a healthy diet and exercise. Bancha tea is no exception. It is actually highly recommend in macrobiotic diet. It is nutritious and light and its flavanoid content help you burn fat faster while you perform your daily activities.
  Give it a try!


• Healthier skin
  
  Green tea antioxidants have the power to rejuvenate your cells by slowing down the oxidation process, when drunk on a daily basis. Bancha tea will help you look younger and fresher. Your skin will be smoother and cleaner, with less wrinkles and dark spots.


• Cancer Prevention
  
  Bancha tea leaves will release its antioxidants in your cup and allow them to fight free radicals, which may harm DNA and cause cancer. These powerful allies will reduce the growth of cancer cells and boost up your immune system, giving you the upper hand in the fight against cancer and other harmful bacteria, through disease preventive action.


• Healthy Smile
  
  We’re sure everyone agrees that dental plaque, tooth decay and bad breath are not what you look for when you smile. However, it is not that hard to solve. The presence of minerals and fluoride in green tea will help you fight it all. Even better, try rising with it after meals and see its freshness working every second.
  
  Be aware that, for you to take advantage of this benefit, you should not put sugar in your tea.

Bancha Tea Side Effects

Considering this tea is lower in caffeine than most green teas, you don’t have to worry about it. There aren’t any side effects related to it. So if you are now a fan, please feel free to drink it anytime you want.

If you are pregnant you should always consult your physician first, but it should be safe for you to drink it and enjoy its health benefits.

To savour this tea properly you must know how to brew it, so allow us to guide you step by step in this magical process of brewing each variety of Bancha Tea.

Drinking Hojicha Tea:

Every tea has its own character and Bancha tea is no exception. In order to get the most out of it you must brew it the right way. Prepare your pot and cups and let’s brew Hojicha.

• The first step is to preheat your teapot with boiling water to keep it warm. If you wish to prepare the perfect cup of Hojicha, the water’s temperature is extremely important to release the sweet woody aroma, so it must be between 90 - 100 ºC (194 – 212 ºF).


• Remove the water from the teapot, dry it carefully and pick up your leaves. Take a close look at them. Inhale that smoky fragrance and close your eyes. Put the leaves in the teapot, one heaping teaspoon per serving is enough.


• Now add boiling water (90 - 100ºC / 194 - 212ºF), cover the pot and let it steep for 3 minutes.


• Drink it and enjoy this moment of pure pleasure.

Drinking Genmaicha Tea:

Combining green tea leaves and brown rice to create a stunning beverage requires precision and passion. We want you to enjoy every single moment while you explore the world of tea with us. So if you really want to appreciate all the process, let’s see how you can brew Bancha leaves and roast brown rice.

• Prepared a medium size pan and pour a thin layer of brown rice in it.


• Place it in the stovetop at a low temperature. Stir the grains gently and watch how they turn into a rich dark brown colour. Smell that toasted aroma, while you wait. It will take approximately five minutes, but it may vary, so observe attentively while your rice gains life.


• Put the rice in a plate to cool it down. Let the aroma and flavour take in.


• Now you will determine the quantity of rice and green tea leaves you wish to use. At first you should pour one tablespoon of each to experience its distinctive flavour. In the future, adjust quantities to your liking.


• Put both rice and leaves into a tea strainer and plunge into a pot with hot water. The temperature should be around 80ºC (approx. 180ºF). Then steep for three minutes.


• Remove the tea strainer and pour your beverage in a cup. Wait... just take a minute to inhale that toasted aroma and look at the beautiful colour. Close your eyes and take a sip. Rest while those brilliant green tea antioxidants happily swim inside you, ready to made wonders for you.

• Use spring water to protect the taste of your tea. The water temperature should be between 180 - 190ºF (82 - 88ºC). It may vary according to your preference. With time you’ll discover the perfect temperature and quantity of water and tea for you.


• Place your leaves in the water. Use two grams for every eight ounce of water. Let it steep for 3 to 5 minutes.


• Use your strainer and pour the tea in your mug. Drink it and savour the moment.

Put the kettle on and pick your tea!

Or check out our selection at amazon.co.uk

Drinking Bancha Tea:

Now if you wish to brew regular bancha tea, don’t worry. It’s easy as well and we’ll explain it too.

• Place 3 teaspoons of loose leaf into an infusion basket and boil your water between 160 to 180º F (approx. 70 to 80ºC).


• Put your infusion basket in the hot water and let it steep for 3 minutes, while the leaves release their tasty aroma and yellowish colour.


• Pour the tea into cups and drink it slowly. Take your time to appreciate this tea.

Green tea never disappoints you. Whether you drink it hot or cold, it will take you on a journey you’ll never forget. Stay close as we’ll continue to unveil this wonderful world to you.

Enjoy your tea!

To read more information about Green Tea in general, check out the following pages:

Return from Bancha Tea to Types of Tea

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"In the Taste of a single cup of tea you will eventually discover the truth of all the ten thousand forms in the universe."
- Attributed to Kyongbong Sunim, Ch'an (Zen) Master