Organic Bancha, first flush, Japan

Bancha Tea (First flush Bancha) Organic

- Japanese Tea -

Origin: Japan, Kagoshima
Spring harvest 2023

The Bancha tea comes from the Camellia japonica variety. It is obtained from the same plant as Sencha tea, but different leaves are used. In fact, for Bancha, the lower leaves are used. This gives the green tea a reduced caffeine content, making it appealing to almost everyone. It is no coincidence that Bancha tea is considered an excellent green tea to sip in the afternoon.

In addition to its low caffeine content, this Bancha is characterized by its liver-stimulating function, making it a good detoxifying agent. It is precisely because of its detoxifying properties that this green tea is used and often associated with macrobiotics. Besides, this Japanese tea, having little caffeine, is a valid blood alkalizer.

This unoxidized green tea with reduced caffeine content. The organic Bancha tea available online at Terzaluna is a high-quality first flush, from Kagoshima, Japan, from the 2022 spring harvest, a blend of different tea gardens producing Bancha.

Spring Bancha First Flush

The spring Bancha (or first flush) is the first harvest of Bancha from the plant, also known as Ichibancha. Bancha tea is the most widespread and common Japanese green tea, and the first flush, harvested between April and May, is the most prized variety. After winter and its dark and foggy weather conditions are over, and spring arrives, the plant brings out all its properties, producing large amounts of chlorophyll and antioxidants and reaching the best state for harvesting. As the exposure to the sun increases, the plant tends to degrade, becoming sweeter, eliminating bitter compounds and decreasing in quality. The second flush Bancha, harvested in autumn, is indeed less valuable and less rich in antioxidants.

Bancha or Sencha?

Bancha is often confused with Sencha tea. In reality, although they come from the same plant, the Camellia Japonica variety, they are two different teas. There are indeed different moments of tea leaf harvesting, which determine the different varieties. The first harvest is Sencha, the tender and young leaves found higher up. Once Sencha is harvested, the plant is allowed to recover, and the Bancha harvest begins, with larger and less young leaves found lower down, with low caffeine content.

Once harvested, the leaves are ready to be processed. In Japan, tea leaves are steamed for very short periods to stop oxidation, rolled by special machinery (a common process for most Japanese teas), and finally put in ovens to dry, a process that helps prevent mold formation.

Bancha: Green tea with reduced theine content

The difference between Bancha and Sencha lies in the leaf chemistry. Compared to Sencha, Bancha tea leaves are less young and larger, have less caffeine but more minerals, and are less bitter. Caffeine is a poison produced by the tea plant to defend itself against external agents such as insects and arachnids; Bancha has relatively low quantities because its leaves are less young, more accustomed to the environment, less tender, and attractive to insects. The reduced theine content in Bancha makes it a tea appealing to everyone, including children, and is considered an excellent green tea to sip in the afternoon. Bancha can also be consumed during pregnancy, paying attention to the amount of caffeine ingested.

Properties and Benefits of Bancha

Among the properties of Bancha, we recognize its liver stimulating function, which makes this green tea a good purifying agent. It is precisely because of its purifying properties that Bancha is often used in macrobiotics, also promoted by the doctor and epidemiologist Dr. Berrino for its beneficial properties and high content of minerals, calcium, and iron. Being located at the bottom, the Bancha leaves receive a slight shading from the leaves at the top of the plant, which allows the production of a very important molecule, L-theanine, an antidepressant and relaxing molecule. Being rich in minerals, Bancha contributes to the elimination of toxins and is a regenerating, antioxidant, toning, and purifying infusion. Furthermore, having little caffeine, Bancha tea proves to be a valid blood alkalizer.

Contraindications

This green tea does not have any particular contraindications, unless there is proven intolerance to the plant. However, being a rather astringent and tannic tea, Bancha is to be avoided by those suffering from constipation.

How to prepare a good Bancha?

Bancha has several preparation methods, it can be enjoyed pure or in combination, it can be a valid substitute for low-caffeine coffee and can also be drunk before going to sleep.

Bancha has a very herbaceous flavor, like Sencha, but unlike the latter which is rather bitter and pungent, Bancha has a sweeter taste, as it is rich in chlorophyll and L-Theanine.

Traditional preparation

The classic preparation method is that of Bancha infusion, which can also be drunk without sugar.

• Water at 80°C
• Infusion time of 2 minutes

It is possible, following the oriental method, to make two infusions of the leaves.

Cold Bancha preparation, oriental method

Being a Japanese tea, Bancha lends itself to the oriental method of cold preparation with ice, called Kōridashi.

Place 10 grams of Bancha tea in a pitcher with about 500 grams of ice and let the ice melt slowly, a process that will take about 3-4 hours. Once the cold infusion is obtained, the tea can be filtered and tasted.

Recommended pairings

In macrobiotics, Bancha is often proposed in combination with other ingredients with beneficial properties.
In addition to classic infusions with the addition of ginger or shoyu, to increase anti-inflammatory and digestive properties and balance the loss of minerals, macrobiotics suggest pairing Bancha with umeboshi, small Japanese plums, fermented and very salty. A Bancha tea with umeboshi can be useful against colds and to tone the immune system.

Where to buy Bancha green tea? Terza Luna is the answer!

The tea for sale on Terzaluna.com is an Organic Spring Bancha harvested in Kagoshima. As always, we have chosen to add to the already wide range of Japanese teas for sale in our tea shop, a truly high-quality Bancha that will allow you to take a journey through the green plantations in Japan with every sip. Our organic Bancha comes from a small cultivation in Kagoshima and we are sure it will surprise you with its taste!

Prices

• 50 gr - 4.50 euros
• 100 gr - 9.00 euros
• 250 gr - 20.25 euros

Passionate about Japanese Tea? Here are some tips

There are also other varieties of Bancha besides the pure one, the roasted teas kukicha and hojicha, the Genmaicha, Bancha enriched with puffed rice, and other flavored versions of Bancha that you can buy online on our website. Try our Green Detox tea, a floral Bancha tea enriched with grapefruit and rose petals.

Want to discover other premium Japanese teas? Find out everything on our online shop Terza Luna.