Bancha Everyday Green Tea
Toasted greens, sweet corn and soft minerals: the easygoing, everyday tea of Japanese homes.
Bancha is Japan's everyday green tea, made from leaf picked after the first harvest. It is mellow and uncomplicated, with toasted greens, grass, sweet corn and a mineral finish. Brewed in a kyusu with 90°C water.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 20 mg in one serving (8 oz cup (240ml)), a concentration of 8.3 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
| Brewing method | Kyusu Teapot |
|---|---|
| Brew ratio | 1:80 |
| Dose & yield | 3g → 240g |
| Grind size | Whole Leaf |
| Water temperature | 194°F / 90°C |
| Target brew time | 1:00-1:30 |
| Serving | 8 oz cup (240ml) |
What you need
- 3 g loose-leaf green tea
- 240 g filtered water at 90°C
Required gear
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Warm the pot with hot water and pour it away, so the brewing water does not lose heat to cold ceramic.
- 0:10Add 3 g of leaf to the pot or basket, leaving room for it to open.
- 0:20Pour 240 g of water at 90°C over the leaf and cover. Start the timer.
- 1:35Remove the leaf or decant completely. Leaf left in the pot keeps extracting and turns the last cup bitter.
What it may be good for
Caffeine, in numbers
We list about 20 mg for an 8 oz cup. Bancha is usually lower in caffeine than first-flush sencha, and a typical 8 oz cup of green tea has about 28 mg. The figure moves with how much leaf you use, the water temperature and how long you steep.
Hot water is fine
Unlike delicate sencha, bancha forgives water close to the boil. If it tastes flat, add a little more leaf, and if it turns harsh, shorten the steep.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you.
Bancha is Japan's everyday green tea, made from leaf picked after the first harvest. It is mellow and uncomplicated, with toasted greens, grass, sweet corn and a mineral finish. Brewed in a kyusu with 90°C water.
Origin & Story
Bancha is the tea people drink without ceremony. It is picked after the first harvest of the year, from the summer and autumn growth, so the leaf is larger, coarser and more mature than the tender buds that go into sencha, and it is graded and priced lower for that reason. It has the humble charm of a tea made for the table rather than the tasting room.
The word covers a lot of ground. Bancha can be green or roasted, smoked or even fermented, and its flavors range from fresh grass to roasted nuts and earth. Hojicha, the roasted tea, is often made from bancha leaf. This version is the green kind, with toasted greens, grass and a hint of sweet corn.
Because the leaf is tougher, bancha stands up to hotter water than delicate sencha. Water at about 90°C, close to the boil, is typical, with a steep of anything from 30 seconds to two minutes. Use about 3 g of leaf for 240 ml, steep for a minute to a minute and a half, and the cup stays mellow without turning harsh.
Bancha is usually lower in caffeine than first-flush sencha, and it is a forgiving tea to make: a little more leaf or a little less time is all the adjusting it needs.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 60/100 |
| Acidity | 24/100 |
| Bitterness | 22/100 |
| Body | 44/100 |
| Aroma | 78/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Bancha Everyday Green Tea?
One serving, 8 oz cup (240ml), contains approximately 20 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Bancha Everyday Green Tea?
Target 90°C (194°F).
How long should Bancha Everyday Green Tea be extracted?
Timing: 1:00-1:30. Method: Kyusu Teapot. Ratio: 12g/L (3g leaves to 240g water). Grind or leaf format: Whole Leaf.
What is bancha?
Bancha is Japanese green tea made from leaf picked after the first harvest, from the summer and autumn growth. The leaf is larger and more mature than sencha's, and the tea is graded lower and sold as an everyday drink.
Is bancha the same as hojicha?
No, but they are related. Hojicha is roasted tea, and it is often made from bancha leaf. Bancha itself may be green, roasted or even fermented, depending on the maker.
Who should avoid Bancha Everyday Green Tea?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Borosilicate Glass Teapot with Infuser
In this recipe: Teapot with room for the leaf to open
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