This is the Lupicia Hanagasa, a Yamagata-exclusive flavoured black tea inspired by the Hanagasa Festival, a summer event centred on coordinated dances performed with safflower-decorated hats.

The dry loose leaf featured a blend of black tea and rooibos, flavoured with cherry and safflower, both regionally associated with Yamagata Prefecture. The leaves presented with a mixed cut, with darker twisted black tea interspersed with finer rooibos fragments and occasional lighter inclusions.

Prepared by steeping 3 g of loose leaf in water at 85ºC for 3 minutes, the infusion presented with a transparent deep red-brown hue. Aroma opened with earthy rooibos notes alongside a sweet–tart cherry profile, moderately expressive.

Initial contact delivered immediate earthy rooibos, with a mellow sweetness. Through the mid-palate, cherry developed with a gentle tang, suggesting the fruit’s character without overt sweetness or acidity. The black tea contributed a light fruity body, carrying the cherry while remaining low in bitterness. Rooibos continued to soften the profile, reducing any sharpness and maintaining a rounded structure. Towards the finish, the cherry notes became more aromatic, lifting slightly before resolving cleanly. Aftertaste carried a soft cherry presence without astringency or bitterness.

Overall, a flavoured black tea with soft cherry development and a rounded, low-astringency structure, resulting in a smooth and approachable profile.

This Lupicia Hanagasa contained 50 g. The tea was sourced from Vietnam and India, packaged in Japan and purchased in Yamagata, Japan in 2024.