Bancha is harvested from the same tree as sencha grade, but it is plucked later than sencha is, giving it a lower market grade. It is considered to be the lowest grade of green tea. There are 22 grades of bancha. Its flavour is unique, it has a stronger organic straw smell. It is often used as a daily consumption of liquid for the Macrobiotic Diet.
Infuse at approximately 80 degrees Celsius (176 degrees Fahrenheit) – this can be achieved by using an electric water boiler with an 80-degree setting, or by adding to the boiling water one third of its volume of room temperature water before adding the leaves. Infusing at a higher temperature will cause the tea to taste bitter. Allow the tea to infuse for 30 seconds to 3 minutes.