Motueka

Bright lime and citrus up front, with light tropical and herbal notes underneath. Mojito-like.

Where It Lives

• Tropical & Citrus (primary)
• Floral & Herbal (secondary)

Storytime

Motueka is a New Zealand hop named after the Motueka region where it’s grown. It’s known for its very bright, zesty lime character with floral and herbal undertones. While it doesn’t have the same massive tropical punch as hops like Citra or Galaxy, it brings a clean citrus quality that works especially well in both IPAs and lighter beer styles.

Key Specs

• Alpha Acids: 6.5 – 8.5%
• Total Oil: 0.8 – 1.2 mL/100g
• Origin: New Zealand
• Form: Pellet
• Common Substitutions: Saaz or Hallertau Blanc (in some recipes)
• More tech specs here

Practical Use

Motueka is mostly used for aroma. It performs best in late boil, whirlpool, and dry hopping, where it delivers that bright lime and citrus character. It’s not as loud or complex as some of the bigger tropical hops, which makes it easier to work with in a lot of recipes. It plays well with other hops and doesn’t tend to overpower them.

On the dry hop side, 2–4 oz total in 5 gallons is a common range. You can push a bit higher if you want more intensity, but it usually stays cleanest when you don’t go too heavy. It works especially well in beers where you want noticeable citrus without a ton of sweetness or resin.

Best for: Late boil, whirlpool, and dry hopping. Brew day tip: It pairs nicely with Nelson Sauvin, Citra, or Mosaic if you want to build bright, layered citrus character.