Review (1000+)

Origin: China Botanical Name: Camellia sinensis

Plucked and produced according to ancient Japanese tradition, this is the tea to recommend the next time you’re asked for something easy drinking, at any time of day. In Japan, Bancha’s ancestral home, this grassy green brew has long been considered the journeyman of teas and is the cup of tea most commonly consumed. Bancha itself is notable for the fact that it is plucked from the same bushes as Sencha, arguably the best-known Japanese variety on the international stage. The difference is that the leaves used to produce Bancha are typically plucked and harvested later, after Sencha season, resulting in a coarser appearance that often includes some stalk and stem. The coarse quality of the loose leaf gives the tea a unique character, milder infusion and lowered caffeine and tannin levels compared to many finer grade green teas. Bancha Tea has a light, refreshing flavor, with a mildly vegetal finish. It’s your everyday drink: toasty, energetic, and strong.

Daily serving size: Pour 8-12 oz. of simmering water (180° F preferred) over 1 tsp. of tea. Steep 2-3 minutes.