Flower · Ingredient
Hops
Humulus lupulus
Papery, pale-green cones that crumble into golden flakes, carrying a heady, resinous scent. Bitter, floral and faintly piney, hops add an unusual beer-garden aroma to evening blends in small amounts.
Blend with hops →The benefits
Why we love hops
A brewer's flower
Hops are the same cones that give beer its bitterness and perfume, bringing a floral, resinous note to tea.
An old bedtime custom
Hops have long been part of English bedtime customs, from hop-filled pillows to an evening herbal cup.
Best in small amounts
Their bitterness is bold, so hops shine when softened with chamomile, lemon balm or spearmint.
Good to know
No special cautions for most people in normal tea amounts.
Hops are the flowers of a climbing vine native to Europe, western Asia and North America. Medieval German monks were among the first to brew with them, the oast houses of Kent were built to dry the harvest, and English country folk once stuffed pillows with dried hops. In Australia they grow in Tasmania's Derwent Valley and north-east Victoria.
Found in these tales
