Taiheke® Hops
Dual: Aroma and BitteringAlpha 6.0 - 9.0%New Zealand
Flavor & aroma
Genetics & family tree
Curated parent and offspring links for Taiheke. View Taiheke family tree & lineage chart → Recipe swaps are on the Hop Substitutor.
Taiheke® is a remarkable case study in how geography can redefine a hop’s genetic destiny. While it began its journey as the classic American Cascade, the first commercial release from the United States Department of Agriculture program in 1972, decades of cultivation in the pristine soils of New Zealand, by New Zealand Hops Ltd, have forged a variety that is entirely its own. Bred from Fuggle and a male likely carrying Serebrianka genetics, Taiheke® has been rebranded to honor its Māori heritage and its new home on the South Island.
By absorbing the unique mineral qualities and intense UV light of New Zealand, Taiheke® has evolved into a "Super Cascade." It retains the reliable brewing backbone of its American ancestor but delivers a significantly more powerful, tropical aromatic punch. It serves as the definitive bridge between 1970s American hop history and the modern, fruit-forward innovation that has made New Zealand world-famous.
Looking for an alternative?
Run Taiheke through our Hop Substitutor to find chemical and flavor matches ranked for your brewing goal.
If you can't find Taiheke, the best alternatives are Amarillo®, Cascade, Centennial, or Motueka™.
Similar hops (calculated)
View hop substitutes for Taiheke →- Mandarina Bavaria30.1%
- Tillicum25.3%
- Idaho 724.8%
- Density24.5%
- Styrian Fox23.5%
Match scores use aroma/flavor charts and chemistry — estimates only.
At A Glance
| Profile | Grapefruit Zest, Sweet Lime, Tropical Fruit, Passionfruit, Lychee, Resinous Pine |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Dual: Aroma and Bittering |
| Alpha Acid | 6.0 - 9.0% |
| Substitutes | Amarillo®, Cascade, Centennial, Motueka™ |
| Pairs with | Citra® (to create a "Global" citrus powerhouse), Motueka™ (to emphasize the lime), Nelson Sauvin™ (for a white-wine complexity) |
| Beer Styles | New Zealand Pilsner, American Pale Ale, India Pale Ale, Summer Ale |
General Information
| Country | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Aliases | NZ Cascade, USDA 56013 |
| Storage Stability | Good |
Brewing Chemistry (Acids & Oils)
| Alpha Acid | 6.0 - 9.0% |
|---|---|
| Beta Acid | 4.8 - 5.5% |
| Cohumulone | 33.0 - 37.0% |
| Total Oil | 1.1 - 2.0 ml/100g |
| Myrcene | 45.0 - 60.0% |
| Humulene | 12.0 - 16.0% |
| Caryophyllene | 4.0 - 8.0% |
| Farnesene | 5.0 - 8.0% |
| Linalool | 0.4 - 0.6% |
| Geraniol | 0.2 - 0.4% |
Growth & Cultivation
| Yield | Medium |
|---|---|
| Maturity | Early to Middle |
| Growth Rate | Very high |
| Cones | Medium size, relatively dense, and heavily laden with golden lupulin |
| Ease of Harvest | Excellent; bines are hardy and suited for standard mechanical picking |
| Sex | Female |
| Leaf Color | Medium green |
| Side Arm Length | 20" - 30" |
- 2026-03-19 17:30:42
- https://www.farmhousebrewingsupply.com/taiheke-n-z-4-oz/
- https://bsgcraftbrewing.com/new-zealand-taiheke
- https://www.yakimavalleyhops.com/product_p/hopsnztaiheke3-2019crop.htm
- https://www.charlesfaram.us/product/taiheke/
- https://www.michiganhopalliance.com/products/nz-taiheke-pellet-hops-2018?variant=13873570709549
- https://beerco.com.au/products/taiheke-nz-cascade-hop
- https://williamswarn.com/product/ingredients/hops/taiheke-hops-nz-cascade-100gm/
- Google Gemini