Before going into this, I want to preface this review by stating (1) I don’t usually like decaffeinated blends and (2) I tend to usually not enjoy Lupicia’s black base. So, this is not a tea I would have ever picked for myself despite enjoying other Momo teas, but it was shared with me by a tea friend and for that reason alone, it is worth a try. Alright, so let’s get started.
Decaf Momo is a white peach tea on a decaffeinated black tea base. The smell of both the dry and steeped blend is mouthwatering, like a juicy and fresh peach. Thankfully, that transfers over to the taste as well. The base only contributes a slight briskness that blends to the peach flavor. I suppose something about either the decaffeinating process or the strong taste of the peach has hidden the usually astringent base making for a tea that is actually quite nice.
Obviously going into this, I did not have high hopes. I am happy to report that my worries were unfounded as this, like the other variety of Momo teas Lupicia offers, is a great peach offering for those looking for a tea with that flavor. Plus, being decaffeinated, it is a tea that can be enjoyed anytime of day.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black (Decaf)
Where to Buy: Lupicia
Description
DECAF MOMO is a fruity blend of black tea scented with juicy white peaches. The tea leaves are decaffeinated using a special technique. Safe for children and great before bedtime.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Soleil Levant from Lupicia. . . . .
These Lupicia teabags are wrapped in the most adorably festive wrappers. Little animals partaking in in Christmas festivities adorn each bag and it is delightful.
What is not so delightful? The chemical sent of this Soleil Levant tea bag when I removed it from its packaging. Unfortunately that chemical scent carries over to the steeped tea as well.
Drinking the tea, I get a muscat flavor first and foremost from the white grapes. That mixes with a pithy citrus which ties in to a bitterness that underlies the whole sip.
I think this tea shows potential but using the suggested brewing parameters of steeping the bag for 1 min in 90C water may have burnt the green base. That would explain the bitterness.
As it is, I am not a fan of this cup but if I had more than just the one teabag I would try brewing this in lower temperature water to see if that brings out more of the flavor and less of the bitter.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Lupicia
Description
This tea is currently not available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Jingle Bells from Lupicia. . . . .
Mary’s recent tasting of Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel inspired me. I figured if she could have a Chanukah tea in May, there was no reason I couldn’t have a Christmas tea. So, here I am, sipping on Lupicia’s Jingle Bells, a black tea scented with fresh grapes and fruity champagne (different than their old Jingle Bells tea which was citrus and yogurt from my understanding).
Grape is not a flavor you find too often in teas. I mean it does show up here and there but more times than not fruitier teas tend to lean more towards citrus, berries, stone fruit, orchard delights, or even tropical offerings. Grapes are just far less common, though each Christmas Lupicia brings out this blend and it is delightful.
While other companies focus on more traditional Christmas flavors like orange and spice or cranberries and spice or peppermint blends, Lupicia serves up something unique.
To me, this blend tastes like grape juice mixed with a bit of black tea. Very strong on the artificial grape flavor but with a bit of briskness/astringency from the base. Interestingly enough, that astringency actually works here as it promotes the champagne quality, adding a little bit of a citrus note without being overly citrus in flavor. For me, this reminds me of when I was younger and my mom would give me grape juice or sparkling grape cider on the holidays and let me pretend it was wine/champagne.
This tea is hard to describe but accurately named. It is something unique during the holidays that provides a welcome change to the more prevalent holiday flavors.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Lupicia
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
A Tea Tastes Like Strawberry Milkshakes #Lupicia
Like many other tea companies, Lupicia offers specialty teas for Christmas. This is one of those specialty teas and I was delighted when I came across this tea bag. For one thing, I have had this before and from what I remember I enjoyed it, so I was happy to revisit it once again. And, for another thing, Lupicia has some of the most adorably packaged tea bags out there (second only to Tea Trunk’s super cute elephant teabags perhaps). This particular tea bag depicts a chipmunk and a cat working together to make a strawberry shortcake so that’s pretty awesome.
Sipping on it now, it reminds me just how much I don’t love Lupicia’s black tea base. Lupicia makes delicious rooibos blends and they have some of the best flavored oolongs on the market but for some reason their black tea always tends to take over their softer and more subtle flavorings. It is somehow smooth yet astringent and creates a heaviness that is out of place next to the more delicate notes of strawberry and vanilla. Those flavor notes, however, are this tea’s saving grace. The vanilla is creamy while the strawberry is more like strawberry flavoring, the sweet and artificial candy-like flavor that is akin to strawberry milkshakes.
Ultimately, this has a good flavor to it but the base takes over and pulls out the more processed quality of this tea. I enjoyed the cup though I have had much better offerings from Lupicia in the past. In fact, I have had a strawberry/vanilla green tea from Lupicia that I recall liking a great deal. All in all, it makes for a nice cup of tea but I don’t think I will be seeking this out anytime soon.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Lupicia
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Cache Cache from Lupicia. . . . .
“CACHE-CACHE” means “hide-and-seek” in French. I’m horrible at French so I’m grateful that I could find more about this on the Lupicia Site. Cache Cache from Lupicia is a tea where various flavors are hidden and found. Ingredients include Black tea, Sugar, Orange flower, Pink pepper, Artificial color, Gum arabic, Flavors.
I remember back in 2014 – having tea envy – because LiberTeas sampled and reviewed this one back then. I’m excited it was available once again this past holiday season and I was able to get my hands on it, too!
There seemed to be so many different flavor layers to this tea. I was able to pick up on buttery notes – but also creamy and smooth, too. Just when I thought it was vanilla – the sugar flavor popped in to play. There were subtle spice notes throughout the sip as well. I couldn’t really put my finger (or tongue) on exactly what the spice was that I was tasting. Was it clove? Cardamom? Pink Pepper? What ever it was – it was necessary for the overall flavor profile.
This one is special. I wish it was available all year round. I’m thinking it would be a hit – and NOT just around the holidays!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Lupicia Tea
Description
CACHE-CACHE means “hide-and-seek” in French. There are a few delicious scents hidden in this cute tea, can you name them all? Available only in our online store and Hawaii store
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
