This is the Lupicia Beppin-san, a tea available exclusively at the Lupicia store at Umeda Hanshin in Ōsaka. It was inspired by the ‘healthy and cute’ titular character in Beppinsan, a Japanese television drama produced by NHK Ōsaka and aired from late 2016 to early 2017.

The tea consisted of a blend of pink peppercorns and gold flat sugar in sencha scented with bergamot.

Steeping 3 g in 200 mL of water at 75ºC for 1.5 minutes, the tea presented a clear green-gold hue accompanied by a gentle bergamot aroma. When consumed hot, the sencha notes revealed grassy vegetal qualities from the beginning to the end of each sip. These notes were harmonised by the aromatic and sharp citrus flavour of the bergamot, reminiscent of an Earl Grey, fragrantly zesty without introducing any sourness. In the body, a subtle sweetness emerged that mitigated any bitterness from the sencha and sharpness from the bergamot. As the sip concluded, the pink peppercorns imparted bright fruity notes with a subtle peppery flavour and without adding spicy heat. This was swiftly followed by the bergamot notes reaching prominence in the finish ahead of a clean aftertaste.

Overall, this green tea variation on the traditional black tea-based Earl Grey, with its subtle sweetness, delivered an enjoyable, brighter, and fresher flavor, harmonizing minor levels of bitterness and astringency.

This Lupicia Beppin-san contained 50 g. The tea was sourced from Japan, packaged in Japan, and purchased in Ōsaka, Japan in 2023.