Green Tea/Twig Tea (Kukicha)

[PAllen]

I would like to enjoy the benefits of Green Tea, but I have a low tolerance for caffeine. From my reading in the past of "The Macrobiotic Way" I understand that Mr. Kushi recommends Bancha and that it might be an alternative, but I have recently read that the processing of Bancha tea destroys the beneficial "polyphenols". Am I misinformed? Any suggestions for a caffeine free solution to Green Tea benefits?

Thanks in advance for the response.

P Allen

[Roy Collins]

P. Allen. More than likely much of the polyphenol activity will be destroyed if the bancha or kukicha is pan roasted. That is why there is a higher catechin level in unroased Green Tea. However, if you are sensitive to the caffeine you can simply purchase DECAFINATED green tea. But this is not without a catch. There are two accepted methods of decaffeination in the United States. One process uses a solvent, Ethyl Acetate, to remove the caffeine. The other process involves carbon dioxide - water and effervescence. According to the Salada Tea site: Green tea decaffeinated using Ehtyl Acetate retains only about thirty percent of EGCG and other catechins thought to be responsible for most of green tea's health benefits. However, green tea decaffeinated with carbon dioxide - water and effervescence retains about 95% of the original catechins.

Therefore make sure you find out from the manufacturer that the tea has been decaffeinated using the carbon dioxide (water) process.

I hope this helps,

In peace, Roy

[shb]

Hello! I used kukicha tea. I was searching the internet to find out information on this. I am sleepy from it. I usually have insomnia onset which takes along time to fall asleep. I thought the tea was the same as Kombucha tea.

[Roy Collins]

Kukicha, Bancha, Black Tea, and Kombucha all are made from the same plant, Camillia sinensis. They are each processed diffferently and different parts of the buch are used. Kukiicha is the most yang form and Kombucha is the most yin, which has a lot of refined sugar, fungi ferment in black tea. It should not be used by Macrobiotics. If you have insomnia problems it is better to avoid drinking any tea with caffeine after 6 pm but Kukicha probably has the least amount. I hope this helps.

In peace, Roy

[shb]

I didnt know kukicha had caffeine. First I was tired then I was relaxed but couldnt go to sleep. I did take it late afternoon. It removes pain which I thought caffeine would make it worse.

[garymill]

CAFFEINE CONTENT COMPARISON CHART
Approximate caffeine content per 8-ounce cup:

Coffee 150-200mg
Black Tea 70-100mg
Cola 45mg
Haiku® Sencha Green Tea 12mg
Haiku® Hojicha Roasted Green Tea 9mg
Haiku® Kukicha Twig Tea 7mg
Haiku® Moroccan Mint Green Tea 7mg
Haiku® Citrus Supreme Green Tea 5mg
Haiku® Sophisticated Roast Barley Tea 0mg
One World® Organic English Breakfast Tea 85mg
One World® Organic Earl Grey Tea 85mg
One World® Organic Darjeeling Thunderbolt Tea 85mg
One World® Organic Ceylon Highland Tea 85mg

Hope this Helps,

Gary
www.discountnaturalfoods.com

[shb]

I will have it in the morning.

[Bruce Paine]

shb and friends:

Here is something I wrote for a mini-brochure some time ago:

"...Actually it's called kukicha or bancha twig tea, (bancha tea, being the beverage that is brewed from twigs and leaves!).

There are a variety of cha (teas) to choose from in Japanese cuisine.

Shaded by bamboo from direct sunlight to maintain their tenderness, the small, delicate, earliest leaves of the common tea plant (Camellia sinensis) are picked to make Gyokoru, the highest quality leaf green tea.

When ground to a fine dust, it becomes matcha, used in the Japanese tea ceremony.

Then the blinds are removed and the larger lower leaves are picked to make sencha, the medium grade green tea.

Lower on the bush, older leaves and small twigs are picked to make bancha, a lower grade green tea.

Less expensive than sencha, bancha is usually served in Japanese restaurants and goes well with food.

Hojicha, a lightly toasted "roasted tea", that unlike other green teas become bitter when cooled, makes a refreshing summer drink.

Kukicha, derived from the final cuttings: twigs and stems, is not considered to be a green tea.

Containing little caffeine, due to the lack of leaves, kukicha has some calcium and is calming to the digestive tract and nervous system.

The best tasting kukicha tea is made using spring, well, or filtered water in aglass tea or coffee pot.

To prepare:

Add 1 heaping teaspoon of kukicha twigs to 1 quart of cold water.

Cover and bring to a rapid boil over medium to high heat.

Turn off the heat and let the tea infuse the water.

If the tea is allowed to simmer on low the color deepens but then the tea becomes more bitter and maybe you'll want to add something sweet and perhaps something milky.

A boiled kukicha that is allowed to infuse with the heat off, will be light in color and be subtly sweet and slightly astringent, something that is refreshing after a nice macrobiotic dinner, by itself, or with a light macrobiotic dessert or snack.

There are a number of brands to choose from: Choice, Eden, Great Eastern Sun-Haiku (Mitoku) and Ohsawa.

I'm currently enjoying Ohsawa Ise Organic Twig-Only Tea-Kukicha.

Available in the following bulk sizes (I think that bulk tastes better than teabag, but you decide): 11 lb., 2.2 lb., 16 oz. and 3 oz. and also in 16 or 24 teabag boxes,


Read More about kukicha in the following books:

Cooking with Japanese Foods by Jan and John Belleme ISBN 0936184043,

And The Whole Foods Encyclopedia by Rebecca Wood 0139565540 or http://www.rwood.com/.."

Thank you, very much.

Bruce Paine

[shb]

Thanks!

[Lulu]

I have been searching the internet for hours trying to find a site I can order some essential macrobiotic ingredients from.

Does anyone know where I can get some Bancha Tea online?

I live in a small country town, and i've been so deflated trying to find daikon greens and burdock. Maybe I could find some burdock tea?

Any information would be great.

I've enjoyed The Self Healing Cookbook : by Kristina Turner

it's been a good beginner book, I also have..
The Book of Macrobiotics : Michio Kushi

I'm finding that a lot more involved, it's taking a bit longer to get through it.

[garymill]

Lulu,

You can get the tea from here http://www.discountnaturalfoods.com/...beverages.html

Gary

[Lulu]

Thanks Gary

[Cinnamongirl]

Does anyone know where to buy bancha tea in Miami????I's been REALLY hard to find!!!...

[Bruce Paine]

Rovena

Sandy Pukel http://www.atasteofhealth.org/mainFrame/aboutsandy.htm says that you can find kukicha at Whole Foods http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/list_FL.html and Wild Oats http://www.wildoats.com/app/cda/oat_...ls&storeId=174 .

Otherwise, you can buy loose and kukicha in teabags online at http://www.discountnaturalfoods.com/...beverages.html .


Thank you, very much.

Bruce Paine

[Nancy]

Rovena,

You can get Bancha Tea from the sources Bruce suggested, or let your fingers do the walking and call the natural food stores in your area to ask if they have it. Bancha is green tea, so ask instead for Bancha Twig Tea, specify Kukicha. It is made from the twigs of the green tea plant, not the leaves, which have more caffeine.

This is the main drink of macrobiotic people, it only has a trace of caffeine -- in fact you will not notice any caffeinated response. It is also a calming and peaceful beverage, and it purifies the blood.

Some major grocery store chains are now carrying Kukicha Twig Tea in boxes with tea bags in their natural foods section. Look for the aisle with all the healing teas and look for it on the shelf. In the West, Raley's, Bel Air, Nob Hill (all the same company) foods is carrying this product in their natural food section. They have also greatly expanded organic natural food bins and organic produce.

Mail order is another way. Click on Catalog at the top of this page.

Nancy