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BANCHA & FOLK SPECIALTIES - O-FIVE RARE TEA BAR

BANCHA & FOLK SPECIALTIES

What is the most overlooked yet incredibly intriguing category of Japanese tea?

Japan is world famous for its tea leaves and related culture.  We are fascinated by matcha, the beating heart of Japanese Sa Do (茶道, the Way of Tea); we crave the intensely green shincha of spring, overloaded with chlorophyl.  

Yet Japan is also home to a very wide variety of folk teas that are in severe danger of disappearing.  Most of these belong to the 'Bancha' category.

 

Introducing Bancha (番茶):  番 (ban) means "number"; it is often used to imply and can imply that something is common or ordinary.  茶 (cha), of course, means "tea."  The term 'bancha' has traditionally been used for the inexpensive tea that ordinary people drank. Since old times, many villages developed very unique types of tea intended for daily use; many of these seldom if ever let their origin.  

In modern Japan, where the population of small villages is ever decreasing, the production of many of these tea gems has declined significantly.  

 

In this collection you will find some heartwarming hojicha (ubiquitous across Japan), but also some rare teas that are currently made by only a handful of artisans in the world.  Explore wonders like Musashi's favourite tea, anaerobically fermented Awa Bancha, and the most intriguing Bata Bata Cha.

MUSASHI'S BANCHA - O-FIVE RARE TEA BAR
MUSASHI'S BANCHA - O-FIVE RARE TEA BAR

MUSASHI | Okayama Heritage Tea

From$24.00
MUSASHI'S BO CHA | STICK TEA - O-FIVE RARE TEA BAR
MUSASHI'S BO CHA | STICK TEA - O-FIVE RARE TEA BAR

MUSASHI'S BO CHA | STICK TEA

From$24.00
Awa Bancha - O-FIVE RARE TEA BAR
Awa Bancha - O-FIVE RARE TEA BAR

AWA BANCHA - ANAEROBICALLY FERMENTED DARK TEA

From$22.00
Shishikui Kancha, Heritage Japanese Tea
Kancha in Tokushima, Winter Tea

TEA CHEST + CULTURE QUEST | Ishimoto Akemi's Winter Tea (Kancha)

$108.00
LAND OF THE GODS | IZUMO FOLK BANCHA - O-FIVE RARE TEA BAR
LAND OF THE GODS | IZUMO FOLK BANCHA - O-FIVE RARE TEA BAR

LAND OF THE GODS | IZUMO FOLK BANCHA

From$20.00
HOJICHA KIRISHIMA - O-FIVE RARE TEA BAR
HOJICHA KIRISHIMA - O-FIVE RARE TEA BAR

KIRISHIMA HOJICHA

From$18.00
KARIGANE (HOJI BOCHA) - O-FIVE RARE TEA BAR
KARIGANE (HOJI BOCHA) - O-FIVE RARE TEA BAR

KARIGANE (HOJI BOCHA)

From$18.00
New
MEANDERING MONK | Kamikatsu Awa Bancha, Anaerobically Fermented - O - FIVE RARE TEA BAR
MEANDERING MONK | Kamikatsu Awa Bancha, Anaerobically Fermented - O - FIVE RARE TEA BAR

MEANDERING MONK | Kamikatsu Awa Bancha, Anaerobically Fermented

From$22.00
New
GAME OF FRUIT | Goishi Cha, Double Fermentation Dark Tea - O - FIVE RARE TEA BAR
GAME OF FRUIT | Goishi Cha, Double Fermentation Dark Tea - O - FIVE RARE TEA BAR

GAME OF FRUIT | Goishi Cha, Double Fermentation Dark Tea

From$38.00
New
FIERY FOOTHILLS (Mt. Aso Hoji Bo Cha) - O - FIVE RARE TEA BAR
FIERY FOOTHILLS (Mt. Aso Hoji Bo Cha) - O - FIVE RARE TEA BAR

FIERY FOOTHILLS (Mt. Aso Hoji Bo Cha)

From$18.00

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