Japanese Bancha Houghi Tea is a roasted green Japanese tea with a unique toasted scent and flavour.
It is occasionally called Hojicha, and is a superior quality Bancha mature leaf tea that has been roasted. The story goes that it came as an idea to a tea merchant in the early 20th century who wanted to prolong the life of tea that he had overbought and came up with the idea of roasting it. I am not at all sure this can be true as the tradition of roasting Japanese tea has been around for centuries but its a charming tale nevertheless.
Japan has been producing teas for between 1000 and 1200 years, and all production is devoted to green teas. Some, however, undergo further processing such as roasting and in the case of Genmai Cha, additions in the form of rice kernels. They are usually more expensive than teas from China
Green tea is ubiquitous in Japan and is commonly known just simply as “tea”
Tea was first used in China, and in 1191, was brought to Japan by Myōan Eisai, a Japanese Buddhist priest who also introduced the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. Teas from Japan may often be referred to as “Japanese tea” to distinguish them from their Chinese green counterparts. Of course other stories abound such as the first documented evidence of tea in Japan dating to the 9th century, when it was taken by the Buddhist monk named Eichū on his return trip to China. We will probably never know for sure but whilst Japan makes some of the finest green teas in the world and has done so for at least a thousand years – it only accounts for around 2% of the world’s export of tea.
Japanese green teas are mainly made from Yabukita which is cultivar of Camellia sinensis.
Unlike Chinese green teas which are pan-fired, Japanese green teas are steamed giving them a more “vegetative” or “leafy” taste.
Japanese green teas are categorized by the age of the leaves: young leaves are called Sencha and the mature, larger leaves are called Bancha. Types of tea are commonly graded depending on the quality and the parts of the plant used as well as how they are processed.
Payments
We accept direct payments through Etsy by credit/debit card or Paypal transfers to make it as easy as possible for you.
You have the right to cancel an order within 24 hours of placing the order or by request at any time prior to despatch.
Shipping from United Kingdom
We aim to despatch within 2 working days of receipt of order but will inform you if this differs for some reason for any product you may have ordered. We use a tracking service which requires your parcel to be signed for and you will be able, in many instances, to track the progress of your package from door to door.
Orders to destinations outside the EU will have a customs and excise declaration - customers from outside the UK should make themselves aware of any local restriction on imported plant material and the Natural Herbalist can accept no liability for custom and excise intervention in your order at transit or delivery stage.
PLEASE READ – IMPORTANT
ALL ORDER WILL ONLY BE DESPATCHED USING TRACKED AND SIGNED FOR DELIVERY WHERE APPROPRIATE (some countries provide tracked OR signed for only rather than both)
WE GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO PROVIDE TRACKING ON YOUR PURCHASE SIMPLY SO THAT YOU CAN, AT ANY POINT ON YOUR PARCEL’S JOURNEY, AND WHERE APPROPRIATE AND APPLICABLE, CHECK ON YOUR PARCEL’S PROGRESS.
TRACKING NOT ONLY INFORMS YOU OF WHERE YOUR PARCEL IS BUT ALSO IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS WITH DELIVERY THAT ONLY YOU CAN CORRECT SUCH AS MISADDRESSED PARCELS, NOT BEING IN WHEN YOU HAVE TO SIGN FOR THE PARCEL OR RE-ARRANGING A DELIVERY TO SUIT YOUR SCHEDULE.
AVOIDING USE OF TRACKING WILL ONLY LEAD IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES TO YOU LOSING YOUR ORDER WHERE YOUR ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED BY THE CARRIER TO COMPLETE DELIVERY.
PLEASE USE THE TRACKING SERVICE – IT IS SIMPLE AND EASY TO USE AND WILL HELP YOU AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
We hope you enjoy your purchase
YOU WILL BE REQUIRED BY YOUR DOMESTIC POSTAL SERVICE TO SIGN FOR YOUR PARCEL UPON ITS DELIVERY – IF YOU ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO SIGN FOR YOUR PARCEL YOUR DOMESTIC CARRIER WILL LEAVE A NOTICE FOR YOU TO CONTACT THEM REGARDING YOUR ARRANGEMENT FOR A MORE SUITABLE TIME FOR DELIVERY OR YOUR COLLECTION OF THE ITEM FROM THE SORTING OFFICE – THEY WILL NORMALLY ALLOW UP TO THREE WEEKS FOR YOU TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.
IF, FOR SOME REASON, YOU DO NOT RE-SCHEDULE A SUITABLE TIME FOR YOUR LOCAL CARRIER TO RE-DELIVER YOUR PARCEL, IT MAY BE RETURNED ULTIMATELY TO US. THIS IS BY NO MEANS CERTAIN AND ALWAYS TAKES LONGER THAN THE OUTWARD JOURNEY BUT ONLY UPON RECEIPT OF THE RETURNED PARCEL WILL A REFUND ON THE PURCHASE PRICE BE MADE. WE WILL NOT SEND THE ITEMS AGAIN NOR REFUND THE ORIGINAL CARRIAGE CHARGE.
Our Shipping Terms and Conditions are shown in detail here...
http://www.luminescents.net/information/shipping/
Our General Terms and Conditions are shown in detail here...
http://www.luminescents.net/information/terms-conditions/
No MSDS or COA certification is provided with your order as per our terms and conditions.