Bancha - Japanese Green Tea

🍃 Japanese Green Tea – Bancha (Camellia sinensis)

Also known as: Bancha • Everyday Green Tea • Late Harvest Japanese Tea
Family: Theaceae (Tea family — not part of the ragweed family)
Origin: Japan — traditionally harvested from the second or third flush of late-season leaves
Parts used: Dried leaves
Primary use: Internal

✨ Description

Mild, earthy, and deeply restorative, Bancha is Japan’s classic “everyday tea” — a beloved staple for calm energy and digestive balance. Harvested from mature leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant later in the season, Bancha offers a lower caffeine content and a fuller mineral profile than younger teas like Sencha.

Its warm, toasty aroma and golden-green liquor carry a grounding simplicity — comforting yet revitalizing. Bancha’s flavor is less grassy than other green teas, leaning toward nutty, roasted, and subtly sweet, with a smooth finish that invites daily ritual.

🍵 Dried Herb Uses

As a daily tea for balance and renewal:
Bancha is rich in gentle antioxidants and trace minerals, offering calm focus and steady vitality without overstimulation.

• Digestive Support: Traditionally enjoyed after meals to aid digestion and balance stomach acidity.
• Detox & Cleansing: Naturally alkalizing and rich in catechins that help neutralize free radicals.
• Gentle Energy: Provides smooth, sustainable energy — ideal for replacing coffee or sugary drinks.
• Mind & Mood: Promotes calm alertness, helping to center the mind and support emotional clarity.

Directions (Internal Use):
Steep 1 teaspoon of Bancha leaves per 8 oz of hot water (175–185°F / just below boiling) for 2–3 minutes.
Do not oversteep — this preserves its delicate sweetness and prevents bitterness.
Enjoy plain or with a hint of honey and lemon.

🌿 Cultural & Holistic Notes

Bancha is the tea of daily life in Japan — humble yet deeply grounding. It’s often served during family meals, meditation breaks, and after evening baths. Its balance of tannins and minerals makes it both energizing and relaxing, embodying the Zen principle of “simple perfection.”

In macrobiotic traditions, Bancha is considered a cleansing and balancing beverage, helping neutralize excess acidity in the diet and gently support the liver and digestion.

💧 External & Creative Uses

• Use cooled Bancha tea as a facial toner or hair rinse to brighten skin and add shine.
• Add to bath soaks with matcha or chamomile for antioxidant-rich relaxation.
• Brew a strong infusion to use as a natural mouth rinse for fresh breath and gentle gum support.

🌼 Harvest & Sourcing

Our Bancha Green Tea is shade-dried and carefully roasted by Japanese tea artisans using traditional methods passed down through generations.
Harvested in late summer to early autumn, Bancha comes from the second or third picking of mature leaves, ensuring a smooth flavor with less caffeine and more grounding minerals.

⚖️ Energetics & Taste

• Taste: Smooth, nutty, and earthy with a hint of sweetness.
• Energetic profile: Grounding, mildly cooling, cleansing, and centering.
• Pairs well with: Lemongrass, Ginger, Spearmint, or Shatavari for balanced blends.

⚠️ Warnings

• Contains natural caffeine — avoid before bedtime if sensitive.
• Not recommended during fasting or on an empty stomach for those with sensitive digestion.
• Store in an airtight container away from light and moisture to preserve freshness.

🌻 A Note from the Herbalist

Bancha is tea stripped of pretension — simple, balanced, and pure. It doesn’t shout; it whispers. Each sip reconnects you to stillness and vitality, reminding us that nourishment is found in daily rituals, not indulgence.

For those seeking calm focus, clear energy, and digestive ease, Bancha is a grounding companion — a daily tonic in the truest sense.