The custom of drinking tea had not been prevalent among commoners during the Heian period.

《What's the origin of drinking tea?》 Japanese tea culture flourished at the beginning of the 9th century. When we talked about ancient custom of drinking tea, Hikicha※2 at Kinomi-dokyou※1 has been officially regarded as the very first one. From the Heian period through the beginning of the 13th century, tea referred to the　one used in the ritual, such as Hikicha at Kinomi-dokyou, was used by only limited people such as the Emperor, aristocrats, and Buddhist monks. Sencha had not existed during the Heian period. It is expected that the ancient tea referred to Heicha※3. ※1 Kinomi-dokyou was the Buddhist ceremony held by the Emperor Shomu in 729, that 100 hundred monks were ordered to pray for the national peace.The tea served to the monks during this ceremony was called “Hikicha”.

※2 Hikicha was a kind of the token of hospitality to the Buddhist monks participated in a particular Buddhist ceremony.The tea was sweetened with sweetening to heal the participants’ fatigue.

※3 Heicha Rice cake-shaped solid tea

《How Bancha became beverage?》 According to “Hyohanki”※4 or the diary written by aristocrats, there were clothes※5 dyed by tea.It is said that tea was used as dye during the 12th century, which was made by boiling old tea leaves. It is pointed out that the origin of Bancha is possibly ascending in the Heian period.

※4 The diary written by an aristocrat during the Heian period. ※5 An ancient cloth named Hakama.

During the Kamakura period, tea was still with scarcity value.It is believed that since tea was available only by those related to Buddhist society, it never became popular among commoners.

reference:

CHA DAI HYAKKA(Encyclopedia of tea)Ⅰ NOSANGYOSON BUNKA KYOKAI(Rural Culture Association)