Sweet Sips: Top 10 Teas for Tupelo Honey

by Natasha Nesic
Have you ever heard of “Tupelo”?

With the Latin name Nyssa sylvatica— doesn’t that sound like a pretty nymph, straight out of the forest— tupelo is one of the many names of a plant that also goes by black tupelo, black gum, and sour gum.

As it happens, the tree is indeed named after a Greek water nymph or Naiad, which is where we get the “Nyssa”, and “sylvatica” means “of the forest.” (So yes, if you have any friends named Silvio or Sylvia… Their monikers might share the same origin!)

Tupelo exists primarily in the North American southern region of the world, and its wood has a number of benefits including— of all things! — teeth cleaning. How cool is that?

Tupelo honey is known as “The Queen of Honey” for many good reasons! Its flavor characteristics include delicate floral and fruit notes, embodying the massive, magnificent tree that it comes from. Adagio Bees sources their Raw Tupelo Honey from an impressive cultivar called White Ogeechee and it simply has no parallel.

So, what better to pair these lovely flavor notes than with tea? And specifically oolong tea, a type of tea with Queen Tea energy: still green enough to be ladylike, but oxidized fierce and regal as any royalty.

You know what’s coming, so get out your measuring spoons and let’s get into it! The blanket recommendation is always to start with just one teaspoon first, then calibrate to taste when you have a solid feel for the kind of sweetness you prefer and what elements of the tea you want to enhance or experience.

Top 10 Teas For Tupelo Honey

1. Milk Oolong

Please say you’ve tried this one! Its buttery-soft mouthfeel and rich aftertaste are simply luxurious. Make sure you’re steeping it with a timer so that you can be mindful of going no more than two minutes, and add a teaspoon— or even less! — of Tupelo Honey before you decide how much does justice to this milky monarch.

2. Ali Shan

Do you hear the mountains in its name? This Taiwanese oolong’s moisture on the sip speaks of rain-clad hills and valleys along the elevated region that supports its growth and flavor. Try similar steeping methods as above: super gentle, and only a little honey when you’re just giving it the first experience.

3. Golden Flower

This tea is so gentle it almost tastes like an herbal, with its super-bewitching fragrance and the abundance of warm floral notes on the aftertaste. If you enjoy extra sweetness with your hints of chamomile or chrysanthemum, then now is when you can start to think about adding a little more honey after the first cup.

4. Ti Kuan Yin

Is there anything more queenly than a tea literally named after a goddess? We highly recommend trying this one on its own— even just a sip! — to distinctly identify its wonderfully divine complexities, then go wild with the honey to taste.

5. Formosa Bai Hao

Not to be outdone by the previous goddess, Bai Hao is also known as “Oriental Beauty” to imply that it is its own lady of unparalleled lustrousness. Its natural floral and spice notes are extremely well played up by the addition of sweetener, so treat your sweet lady with style.

6. Wuyi Ensemble

This classic mountainous leaf is in a class of its own for mineral and salty-sweet flavors. Adding Tupelo Honey brings out its royally rock-and-roll nature, just be sure to go soft with it so that you can hear the inherent music as you steep.

7. Jade Oolong

Jade as a mineral is historically and traditionally associated with wealth and luck, so it was often indeed worn by royalty. You’ll definitely feel like a queen when you sip on this one, and adding Tupelo Honey ensures that your reign stays sweet.

8. Fujian Rain

Speaking of reigns, how about some rain? This tea embodies the life-giving downpour that later yields nourishing crops like grapes and sweet toasted barley. You’ll love adding different amounts of honey while this tea keeps you company when there’s a storm out.

9. Formosa Pouchong

And we’re back in the family of green oolongs! This one is one of the most floral on the list here, which means that honey is a great addition if you’re still getting used to experiencing flower notes in tea.

10. Fujian Orchid

Orchids are queens in their own right of the flower realm, so it makes sense to let this tea end our top ten list on a high floral note. If you enjoyed the previous teas that let you wander in the flower-filled garden of flavor possibilities, then you’ll love this one as a finisher.