Nov 04
Katie’s Teaview Snapshot
 | "This is a good palate-cleansing or meal tea."
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Bancha is one of the more common Japanese green teas, coming from the same plants as sencha and processed in the same way, the only difference being that it is made with 3-4 flush leaves instead of the first prime pickings. The leaves of Tea Palace's Bancha are broad and flat and a deep forest green, much darker than the picture on the website. Since the leaf is so light, I piled about a tablespoon into my 8 ounce glass and steeped it at 180 degrees for three minutes. The liquor is a bright yellow with an underlying tint of green and a very pale scent reminiscent of nuts and spinach. I can barely smell it, but scent is only one factor of a good tea.The flavour is somewhat light for a Bancha, which some may consider a good thing, though I am in the mood for a smidgen more heft. The flavour has notes of spinach and lemon with sourness lingering in the base. As you would expect, this is not as decadent as a Sencha, but it is smooth and consistent with a clean finish.
The three minute second steep had even less scent but more tang and grassy flavour. Overall, I enjoyed it more than the first cup. The third steep was similar to the second, but the flavour was even weaker to the point that it was hard to detect. This was not such a big transition from the second cup that I found it unpleasant; however, so I don't regret having the third infusion.
The astringency remained throughout every cup, but it was more of the lemony sourness characteristic of Senchas than anything unwanted. This is a good palate-cleansing or meal tea. Unfortunately, once you convert this from the British Pound to the US Dollar, it is a bit expensive for a Bancha, but it's a solid example of the tea.
— To purchase Tea Palace Japanese Bancha, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.
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