This is the Lupicia Lychee Oolong from 2025. Having not encountered the tea for almost a decade, its return in 2025 was particularly welcome, though notable for its shift in tea base: replacing the darker Fujian oolong used previously with a lighter oxidised Taiwanese pouchong-style oolong.
The blend combined Taiwanese pouchong oolong scented with lychee.
Steeping 3 g in 200 mL of water at 85ºC for 2 minutes produced a pale green infusion with high clarity. Aroma opened with delicate floral notes of lily and lychee supported by soft green freshness.
Consumed hot, initial contact delivered fresh lychee notes with mild natural sweetness and a notably smooth, light-bodied mouthfeel. The lychee profile leaned towards fresh fruit flesh rather than syrup or preserved fruit, giving the opening a cleaner and more restrained character than the earlier formulation.
Through the mid-palate, the pouchong base emerged with soft grassy and lightly vegetal notes that broadened the body without introducing heaviness. Floral notes gradually developed further, particularly fresh lily and orchid characteristics, while a subtle melon-like fruitiness expanded beneath the lychee. Texture remained smooth and fluid throughout, with the lighter oxidation of the Taiwanese oolong preserving freshness and clarity rather than roasted depth.
Towards the finish, the floral and melon-like notes became more prominent as the lychee sweetness softened. The tea resolved with mild sweetness, gentle dryness, and very restrained tannic grip, avoiding noticeable astringency. Compared with the earlier darker Fujian-based version, this release presented a more lively and spring-like interpretation of lychee, favouring freshness and floral lift over the richer, more preserved-fruit profile of the older blend.
Overall, a flavoured Taiwanese oolong with a layered floral-fruit flavour progression and highly integrated light-bodied mouthfeel, resulting in a delicate and refreshing interpretation of lychee built around freshness rather than richness.
This Lupicia Lychee Oolong contained 50 g. The tea was sourced from Taiwan, packaged in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2025.