In the West, we’re used to deep red, sweet cherries about 2 cm in diameter. Japanese cherries, or sakurambo (literally, fruit of the sakura, cherry blossom tree), however, are ruby red and distinguished for their sweet, slightly tart flavour and aroma. This here is Lupicia Sakurambo Vert.

Lupicia Sakurambo Vert is a bancha blended with Japanese cherry and rosemary. Pink peppercorns add pops of colour.

Steeping 3 g of looseleaf in 200 mL of water at 75°C for 1.5 minutes, the infusion was a clear light yellow colour with a bright fruity cherry nose. Served hot, the sweet-sour flavour of Japanese cherries came through before piney and earthy notes of pink peppercorns and rosemary in the body are followed quickly by the vegetal notes of the bancha to leave a refreshing peppery finish that gave way to a clean aftertaste and slight astringency on the palate. Overall, it’s a refreshingly fruity medium-bodied tea with a balanced sweetness and complexity of flavour from the addition of rosemary. It would work well as an iced tea.

This Lupicia Sakurambo Vert contained 50 g. The tea was sourced from Japan, packaged in Japan, and purchased in Kyōto, Japan in 2015.