January 17, 2024
by Natasha Nesic
Question: dear reader and sweet-thing-synchophant: before you found your way to the hallowed haven of adagiobees.com Adagio Bees, had you ever heard of
Manuka honey?
You may have!
About Manuka
Sourced from bees feeding on the delectable blossoms of New Zealand’s manuka tree (minor pronunciation note, for those curious about phonetics as well: traditional spelling is with emphasis on the “ma” in “manuka”), Manuka honey is a popular superfood that often populates the shelves of the grocery store— ideally please, you’re shopping at a good grocery store, whether online or in-person— in the same section where you’ll find other non-sugar sweeteners like agave, coconut nectar, and maple syrup.
However, you won’t always find it there.
And yes, the dramatic one-line paragraph transition is completely necessary because that’s just how powerful this honey is!
You see, Manuka honey is identified as not just a sweetener to make your baked goods or tea beverage absolutely delicious, but as an immune system booster and tonic as well. It has been
studied to possess anti-inflammatory and potential antibacterial benefits, which puts it in the changeling category of superfood and sweetener all at once.
Which means that it doesn’t have to be relegated to just one kind of flavor profile or function, so that ultimately our friend Manuka honey goes well with myriad number of teas.
Wondering which ones, specifically?
Wonder no further, we got you!
Tea Pairings
It’s no secret either that turmeric is also a potent superfood, which makes it the perfect pair for an immune powerhouse like Manuka honey. The natural earthiness of turmeric root goes extremely well with the pungency of this honey, so err lightly on how much you want to use of both of them! You’ll be weatherproofing your sinuses something fierce.
Yep, it’s another earthy one! Genmaicha, however, tastes more like it’s in the family of toasty-vegetal popcorn, or rice cakes stir-fried in tender bok choy, so it needs the help of a sweetener like Manuka honey to let us know that it’s got more dimensions than pure savoriness. Use a healthy, full teaspoon and dial the sweetness from there.
If you were expecting a fair number of wellness teas to show up on this list as well, you wouldn’t be incorrect. Manuka honey is the best friend for any wellness warrior, and we’re listing this one first because, frankly— it’s one of the most delicious! (Note: deliciousness is entirely subjective and you are more than welcome to find another tea more delicious!)
Alright, admittedly it’s a tie between this one and the previous tea for flavor power, so let’s add Manuka to both of them and let everyone enjoy equally. The throat-soothing herbs in this blend go perfectly with the throat-soothing action of the honey itself!
If you know what it’s like to be in the red tent time of the month, then having a little something extra sweet to look forward to will never go amiss. The little things count! That being said, for this and all the wellness teas, a “little” bit of Manuka honey means not to be shy with a teaspoon or two, because you’re not just going for flavor, but healing potential as well.
Can’t forget about our white teas, now! Known already to be a high-antioxidant-level tea, white tea goes super well with Manuka honey because its light flavor can still handle Manuka’s boldness. Less is more on the spoonful, though! You really want those springtime accents to shine.
Speaking of springtime, have you tried this blend yet? Both green and white tea come together in a rare pairing of sweetness and strength. Luckily, our Manuka honey has both characteristics as well, so it melds perfectly with those verdant notes that the tea has to offer.
Cowabunga! Forgive the surfer language, but when both your tea and honey are island-derived, it just makes you want to jump on the nearest wave. Good thing, too— if you’re out surfing this season, you’ll definitely want a strong immune system to beat being beaten by the chill of the waves! There’s nothing like a hot, sweet cup after a good beach practice.
Rooibos has both the earthiness and the staying power that Manuka brings to the (tea) table as well, in spades. The jasmine flavor just punches up its tranquility factor— and you don’t want to miss out on it. Try a tiny teaspoon of honey to start, then adjust to taste so that you don’t overpower the florals.
If we’re going to throw Manuka in with a powerful floral like jasmine in the rooibos, then it needs the same love from lavender! You can go as much as you want with a spoonful of this one, since the Earl Grey flavors are super partial to hanging out with a kid like Manuka.
