Treasure - Manuka Honey Black Tea

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting Mānuka honey, you know its unique earthy rose aromatic sweet flavor. It’s unusual, rich and seductive. Its flavor is as deep as it is complex. 

This floral black tea is a Polynesian inspired beauty. It captures the wild floral character of Mānuka honey, which is produced only in New Zealand. The Māori people have long revered Mānuka trees and honey as liquid gold or taonga, the Māori word for treasure. It has a reputation for amazing healing powers. The name also nods to the honeyed vocals of the Treasure album from the Scottish band, Cocteau Twins.

Treasure opens with a distinctive malty floral honey sweetness. Its maltiness makes it an excellent choice for breakfast tea. This tea is sweet smelling rather than sweet tasting. It has an unusual base of Assam black tea and Chinese sencha green tea. This combination creates an earthy floral base that echoes the inimitable flavor of the Mānuka honey. The honey flavor comes from real Mānuka honey granules. Catsfoot and osmanthus beautify this tea while imparting a subtle floral aroma. In the finish, there is dried rose and herbaceous camphor flavor, reminiscent of eucalyptus. This unique aroma lingers in between sips.

Taken hot and black this tea is rich and malty. Sugar or honey enhances its natural sweetness giving it a photorealistic Mānuka honey flavor. Milk tones down the earthy tannin flavor and enhances its soft rosy flavor.

I strongly prefer this tea hot with no sugar. It has an intoxicating floral honey aroma without actually tasting sweet. If you want a strong sweet honey flavor, add sugar or honey to your taste. Iced and sweetened, Treasure makes an outstanding sweet tea.