The Alley LuJiaoXiang released a pair of lychee drinks in December 2019 that play on the angel/devil, white/black dichotomy. This is the Devil Lychee Lulu ($8.30, fixed ice, fixed sweetness). The cup featured a reindeer head that pops up from the lid, while the drink was a lychee flavoured jasmine green tea base blended with ice, activated charcoal and lychee pulp, before being topped with cheese foam.
The drink was a translucent charcoal-grey colour with a white top. Consumed chilled, vibrant notes of sweet lychee came through the syrup that complements the floral and gently vegetal notes of the jasmine in the green tea, while generous chunks of lychee pulp come up with every sip. Midway through our drink, though, we noticed an emerging prominent bitterness that we discovered to be dreaded cheese foam despite firm assurances from acquaintances and reviews online that it was ‘just a sweet cream’. Make no mistake, there is nothing sweet about it — it’s salty and dirty and an absolutely disgusting finish to another otherwise very enjoyable drink. When cheese foam is the enemy, trust no one.
This Devil Lychee Lulu was purchased at The Alley LuJiaoXiang at Shop 4067, Westfield Parramatta, 159-175 Church St, Parramatta NSW 2150.