Lupicia, seriously; how do you even do this? Who flavors these teas? Are they wizards?
In the bag, this has that very Lupicia-esque filthy ripe-fruit oolong smell to it that I love so much in, among other teas, Ripe Mango Oolong. It’s an earthy, muddy scent with a hint of fruit rot, intermingling with a very potent cantaloupe/honeydew melon note. It’s somewhat overwhelming, but in no way artificial or overly sweet.
Steeped, it’s a perfect melon. Flavor wise, it’s a perfect melon. I don’t even know how to review this tea saying anything I haven’t already stressed so many times about how beautifully natural and lush Lupicia’s fruit flavorings are, or how excellent their tea bases is.
I’m dying to try this one cold, too.
I don’t have much experience with melon teas – to be honest, I’m not even quite sure how I feel about melon-flavored tea as a general concept at all – and now I have three to try out, so see this as a tentative grade.
[From my Lupicia spree at Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, October 2013.]
Boiling, 1 min 30