Is the kiokio fern NZ's tastiest native tea?

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-03-31 08:58

New Zealand

Kiokio shoot. Photo by greghadley1 on iNaturalistNZ (CC-BY-NC)

One of the most widespread, abundant and easily recognisable ferns in New Zealand has scored higher on a taste test than the more common native plant ingredients kawakawa and horopito. Researchers compared six native plants by asking people to taste tea-like liquid infusions of each, and then chemically analysing the plants in the lab. The tea made from young furled shoots of kiokio was described as sweet, fresh, fruity, and floral – which contrasts with the reaction to the dried plant, previously described as smelling fishy, earthy, and musty.

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Research Wiley, Web page

Journal/
conference: Journal of Food Science

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: AgResearch, Bioeconomy Science Institute, Lincoln University

Funder: This research was funded by the AgResearch Ltd. Strategic Science Investment Fund, SSIF-A27235 (Consumer Experience: pathways to premium foods).

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