Sakurambo ~ Lupicia

At this point I’ve reviewed both Kilogram and Chado Tea Room teas, but in truth there was a third vendor i visited while in LA last summer I’ve yet to uncover. Since we’re nearly to Summer 2017, I feel like I’m really dragging my feet in reviewing this year. I wish that I could squeeze in more than one review a week, but I can’t seem to get a break this semester. If there was a piece advice I would leave to future generations it might be, “Ignorance is bliss; don’t become an academe” (and yes, in fact I am being just a little ironic).

Thus I give you my 73rd tea vendor, Lupicia. First, let’s talk logos. I honestly can’t fathom why, but Lupicia Pacific, Inc. is the only vendor I’ve ever encountered that has four trademarked logos (seen above; to the left), but I wonder if it might’ve had something to do with the similarly to Silk Road Teas logo, which also bares a caravan. For those of you who are interested in the Japanese written on the tins, in outlandishly flowery script it says: 緑碧茶園 (Midoriao chaen), The Patina Tea Room. Uhh… all right then. Also, Lupicia is Lithuanian for “loot”. ^^;;

Lupicia is a fabulous smaller multinational tea vendor whose Greens had me drooling (as did the retailer, Espresso Profeta,’s many sapphic patrons). I came home with quite a few to sample and share with you (teas not girls). It’s actually hard to choose which to review as they all sound utterly stupendous and are all probably a bit of let down. But it’s been quite a while since I reviewed anything from the bread basket (back satchel?) of the tea world, so I eventually settled on Sakurambo (and brewed some Momoko for myself). Despite it’s cute name, Sakurambo isn’t another Green from Japan. Rather it’s a Flavored Black from India and Vietnam (again, I’m at a loss as to why, but most Lupicia flavored teas have a Japanese sounding name). And no, after writing this post I cannot get the “Sakurambo” folk dance song out of my head. Thank you anime.

In liquor, Sakurambo falls between a burnt peach and a dim blood orange. In aroma, the enticing bittersweet Japanese cherry melds flawlessly with a rich Darjeeling malt and a hint of clove. Please my crazy homeostasis that gets more insane every year, don’t ever take away my sense of smell! In flavor, the cherry and malt are both prevalent, while the aftertaste is quite bitter and mossy. Sakurambo’s texture is so thick and syrupy I can’t even tell whether it has tip or not–definitely a second flush. The actual ingredients include: Black tea, Japanese cherries, pink Peppercorns and Rosemary.