This Lupicia Over the Rainbow is one of two teas available only from the Lupicia store at Tōkyō Skytree Solamachi. Both teas draw on Western children’s stories. This one is inspired by the song of the same name from the movie, The Wizard of Oz, while the other is inspired by Jack and the Beanstalk.
The looseleaf is black tea blended with golden sugar, roasted rice, cornflower and marigold petals, and fragrance. It’s easy to see why this tea was called ‘Over the Rainbow’ with the colourful looseleaf.
Steeping 3 g of looseleaf in 200 mL of water at 85°C, the infusion was a clear red colour with a fragrant Muscat aroma. Served hot, light floral notes of Muscat came through crisp before receding in the background as the mellow sweet black tea takes prominence in the body. The fruity Muscat returns with a more muted fragrance towards the finish with minimal astringency in the aftertaste.
The fragrant Muscat in this flavoured black tea is refreshing and elegant, making it a pleasure to drink both hot or iced. Compared to the Lupicia Queen’s Muscat Oolong, the black tea has a richer, rounder mouthfeel with a more pronounced sweetness while being light on the palate, whereas the fresh and lightly vegetal notes of the light oolong gave it a fresher flavour.
This Lupicia Over the Rainbow contained 50 g. The tea was sourced from India, Vietnam and Kenya, packaged in Japan, and purchased in Tōkyō, Japan in 2018.