[Review] Lupicia Hawaii - Momoko and Hua Ki Tea Blends

Lupicia, a high-end Japanese tea company with a global presence, first fell into my lap when a friend brought back their Hua Ki tea as a gift from a trip to Oahu, Hawaii. As fate would have it, I was heading to Oahu the very next week and this renowned Honolulu shopping destination naturally made it to the top of my list.

And despite the fact that more and more brick-and-mortar tea shops are closing doors and moving online, Lupicia Hawaii is rated one of the top 50 shops to visit in Honolulu on Tripadvisor. Yes—this isn’t your typical mom and pop tea shop with the same respun blends of chai and Earl Grey. And while flavorful blends are what Lupicia is best known for, there’s tons for even the Japanese green tea purists to choose from.

With an air of luxury (yet reasonable prices), beautifully designed tins, and a wide range of delightful flavors, Lupicia is a tea lover’s haven. In addition to the Lupicia Hawaii exclusive Hua Ki, I also picked up a handcrafted matcha bowl and Momoko tea during my visit. Here’s my review of these Lupicia teas!

Momoko - Peach and Sweet Vanilla Flavored Green Tea ($12.00)

Hua Ki - Tropical Fruit Flavored Black Tea ($12.00)

About Lupicia Hawaii

*A shot taken inside of Lucipia Hawaii inside the Ala Moana shopping center - December 2021.*

Lupicia’s Honolulu location is currently the brand’s only store in North America, with three other global locations in France, Taiwan, and Australia. The store boasts an impressive display of hundreds of large tins with different tea labels. Before COVID, all teas were laid out on the counter for customers to smell the varieties. I was giddy to find all sorts of teas, teaware, and gift boxes displayed in a clean, modern showroom ready to explore!

But even if a trip to Hawaii isn’t in the books any time soon, American customers can order Lupicia tea directly from their online shop.

Despite Lupicia’s tourist destination status in Hawaii and popularity, I was surprised to find that the vast reaches of the internet don’t have much information at all about the company’s history other than a few lines on their Japanese corporate site.

Started in Japan in 1994, Lupicia has grown to have dozens of stores in Japan and several brands in addition to its tea branch known around the world. A tea school, scone company, and gourmet food shop are just a few of the other tea--related ventures under the Lupicia brand in Japan.

Lupicia Momoko review

Out of the hundreds of teas to choose from at the store, I chose loose leaf “Momoko” in a tin simply because it was pretty. (In an industry that’s been around for hundreds of years with little to differentiate one brand from another, packaging is a major driver in consumer decisions!)

Luckily it was a good decision, because the tea inside is absolutely delightful. I’ve been keeping cups of pipping hot Momoko closer than usual just to enjoy the amazing smell.

Momoko is a fruity, desserty blend of green tea, sugar crystals, heath flower, rose petal, cornflower, and other flavorings. All this to say, it tastes like a sweet, peachy green tea!

In fact, when I first opened the package, I was caressed with a delicious aroma of fresh peach biscuits. As someone who prefers tea without any sweetener, I was hesitant about the added in sugar crystals in Momoko, but it’s such a small amount that it in no way overpowers the green tea or peachy flavor.

Overall, this Lupicia tea is a pleasing medley of soft and refreshing flavors for lovers of fruity tea.

Hua Ki (Lupicia Hawaii exclusive) review

Speaking of fruity teas, Lupicia’s exclusive Hawaii line of teas packs perhaps the fruitiest punch of all fruity teas. Hua Ki is no exception!

The tropical flavor resembles the exotic fruit blends from the well-known Hawaiian Islands Tea Company sold across Hawaii, the US mainland, and in Asia-Pacific.

Hua Ki has a black tea base accompanied by dried papaya, cranberry, mango, apple, pineapple, blue mallow, strawberry leaf, and other flavorings. The dried fruit contains a bit of sugar for preservation, which gives the tea a further little sweet kick.

I truly wish Lupicia tea sold candles of their teas, because just the smell of Hua Ki is enough to make your mouth water. There are four other Hawaiian exclusive teas in this line with colorful designs that make for an excellent gift or little souvenir for yourself.

Lupicia Hawaii
1450 Ala Moana Blvd.#1100, Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 941-5500
supportusa@lupicia.co.jp
Hours
Mon-Sat 11:00am - 6:00pm
Sun 12:00pm - 5:00pm

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about the author

Hello, is it tea you’re looking for? Raquel is an Arizona-based tea drinker who writes about tea as a side hobby. Her current favorites are Earl Grey with a splash of milk and any Japanese green tea.