This was a sample that came with the monthly Lupicia flyer. Opening it, I was greeted by a little cloud of tea dust and a mix of bright, fruity aromas. I was expecting this to be a holiday tea with all the bells and whistles, but the fact that it could be a green tea slipped my mind. But sure enough, it had a distinctive sencha-esque scent too.
Brewing this turned up one of the weirdest colors I’d ever seen. Have you ever seen a green tea trying to be red at the same time? Reddish green without being brown? That was what this was. The flavor of this was decent. The green tea base is savory, a little umami, a little seaweed-ish, which are all things I’m happy to find in a nice smooth sencha. The contrast with the fruity flavors is interesting, not what I’m used to, but it doesn’t clash either. The fruit notes are fresh and recognizably Lupicia. In particular, this has got to have some of the same stuff as Napa Blanc in it. Sweet and light, not cloying, but a little candy-like. I would recommend this more as a spring or summer, rather than winter holiday tea.
