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Anna drank Lychee (Lichee) Oolong by Lupicia

303 tasting notes

Lychee isn’t really my thing – except for that lychee martini at Doraku, but even then I can only have one. But when it comes to tea, things can really go either way, so I decided to attempt some lychee oolongs. This one from Lupicia is exactly as expected in the bag – a dirty-ripe, lush oolong boozefest with a surprisingly round lychee note to top it off.

In the cup, the scent mellows significantly, and the flavour is smooth, but with all the complexity of a good Lupicia oolong. Predictably, I want to try this one iced.

I have a strong suspicion lychee tea will grow on me and that I’ll get cravings for this at the weirdest moments – that’s usually the case when I’m this conflicted about a flavour type. I used to think it was a mere-exposure effect thing, but now it seems to land closer to the realm of acquired taste; you know, you try something, and it’s just so weird, and then you get these flashbacks and think, ‘Oh, I should maybe try that really weird thing again.’ (I’m sure that’s what happened to my poor husband when we first started going out.)

Either way, I’m so happy about Lupicia. If I had to choose one tea company to provide all my teas, I’d choose them in an instant. Their quality is so consistent and I feel I can really rely on that – I’m pretty sure I could walk into a Lupicia store, pick any tin blindly, and I’d enjoy my cup.

Oh, and this lychee sip aftertaste is just too good. Too good.

[From my Lupicia spree at Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, October 2013.]

Preparation

Boiling 2 min, 0 sec

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I’m going to try all the teas.

Then I will choose a lucky few perfect specimens, and we will live happily together in my tea cupboard.

Forever.

* *

2015

This will be a year of in-betweenness and logistics. Where to put the teas. How to arrange the teas. Which teas to replenish – which ones to say goodbye to.

Still doing Project Green.
Still doing Project Jasmine.
Still doing Project Peach.

Dr. Tea is the name, I’m ahead of my game
still, steeping my leafs, still f*ck with the temps
still not loving Assam (uh-huh)
still rock my Bosch kettle with its high-pitched shriek
still got love for the greens, repping Lupicia
still the cup steams, still doing my thang
since I left, ain’t too much changed, still

(With apologies to Mr. Young.)

2014

This year, all bets are off. I am going to drink both peppermint and chamomile and possibly suffer a little. But it’s okay – it’s for science.

I’m doing Project Jasmine, Project Peach and Project Unflavoured Green.

In terms of flavoured teas, Lupicia and Mariage Frères have become my massive favourites, and I have learned that Dammann Frères/Fauchon/Hédiard and Butiki aren’t really for me.

The O Dor, Adagio and Comptoir des thés et des épices are all on this year’s I’d like to get to know you better list.

2013

Getting back into tea drinking last fall, I was all about rooibos. This past spring has been all green tea, all the time, with some white additions over the summer. Currently attempting a slow, autumnal graduation to black teas. Oolongs are always appropriate.

The constant for me, flavour wise, is the strong presence of fruity and floral notes. Vanilla is lush, as long as it’s not artificial. Peach, berries, mango. Cornflower, rose, lavender.

No peppermint.

No chamomile.

No cinnamon.

Ever.

* *

My ratings don’t reflect the ‘What does this tea do for me?’ standard, but rather my own ‘What would I do for this tea?’ scale.

100-90
My absolute favourites. Teas I would travel for – or, in any case, pay exuberant postage for, because they simply have to be in my cupboard. Generally multi-faceted teas with complex scents and flavours. Teas with personality. Tricky teas.

89-80
Teas I wouldn’t hesitate to buy again if and when I came across them. Tea purchases I would surreptitiously weave into a travel itinerary (Oh! A Lupicia store! Here?! My word!).

79-70
Teas I enjoyed, but don’t necessarily need to make any kind of effort to buy again.

69-0
Varying degrees of disinterest and contempt.