Motueka
Lime and tropical fruit, gentler than Nelson.
What it tastes like
Motueka is the easy-drinking NZ hop — lime, mojito, lemon zest, tropical fruit, with a soft pine resin background. Less polarizing than Nelson but no less distinctively New Zealand. Great in pilsners and pales.
Best in these styles
Tasting Tip
Motueka in a pilsner is one of the great underexplored combinations in modern craft beer. The hop adds a clean lime brightness without getting in the way.Beers showcasing Motueka
Specific beer examples coming soon.
Substitutes & relatives
If you can't source Motueka, these hops bring overlapping character.
For brewers — technical profile
Alpha Acid
6–8%
Beta Acid
4–5%
Total Oil
0.8–1.5 mL/100g
Oil composition
myrcene
45-50%
humulene
10-15%
caryophyllene
3-5%
farnesene
<1%
History
Bred at the NZ Plant & Food Research Institute, released alongside Nelson Sauvin in 2000. Has Saaz in its parentage, which shows in its noble-adjacent character.