This Lupicia Sanpincha is the second of two Lupicia teas we received that are region limited to Okinawa.
Jasmine tea is known as sanpincha in Okinawa, with its popularity originating with the trade between the Ryukyu Kingdom and China hundreds of years ago. It’s a continuing example of Chinese and Japanese influence in the islands.
This is Lupicia’s contemporary take on this old favourite, blending first flush, or spring-time, Darjeeling tea with jasmine blossoms and scented with lychee.
While this is a black tea, first-flush Darjeeling has a much livelier and fresher flavour that’s closer to a green tea, while retaining the distinctive floral aroma and muscatel flavour of the Darjeeling tea.
Steeping 3 g of loose leaf in 200 mL of water at 80°C for 90 seconds, the infusion was a clear straw colour with a sweet fruity and floral lychee aroma. Served hot, very fragrant floral notes — a result of the Darjeeling, jasmine and lychee — came through with a gentle sweetness at the head of each sip that recalled a more astringent and buttery Lupicia Queen’s Muscat Oolong with a hint of Lupicia Lychee Oolong. A moderate astringency developed in the body and peaks with a slight bitterness that lingered pleasantly in the finish with notes of lychee. Overall, the tea has a bright, elegant and rounded flavour that’s enjoyable hot or iced.
This Lupicia Sanpincha contained 50 g. The tea was sourced from China, packaged in Japan, and received as a gift from family friends visiting Okinawa, Japan in 2018.