Standing in a New Zealand hop garden in the early morning feels magical. Crisp air, distant mountains, and rows of vibrant green vines stretch toward the horizon. The aroma fills the air and captivates your senses. Crush a freshly picked cone of Motueka® or Riwaka® between your fingers, and you immediately know: this isn’t your average hop.

At Charles Faram, our journey with New Zealand hops has been one of discovery, passion, and partnership. We’d love to share a bit of that story with you.

A World Away, But Worth the Trip

We’ve been sourcing hops for more than a century. But it wasn’t until we set foot in the hop regions of New Zealand that we truly understood how special this place is.

These farms aren’t industrialised mega-operations; they’re family-run, fiercely proud, and deeply connected to the land. Many growers have been farming hops for generations. They’ve built knowledge not just about growing, but about how to push the boundaries of what hops can be.

In an industry full of bold claims, it’s easy to be sceptical about “unique terroir.” But New Zealand genuinely delivers something different: bright, expressive, fruit-forward hops grown in some of the cleanest air on earth.

Meeting the Legends

Working with the NZ Hops co-operative, we’ve met some extraordinary growers who walk the fields daily, breeders who obsess over oil profiles, and farmers who still hand-harvest select bines for quality checks. It’s these relationships that allow us to secure the freshest hops and share them with brewers back home.

When you open a bag of premium hops in your brewhouse, it’s not just a hop; it’s the result of years of research, careful growing, and a strong handshake agreement between the folks who made it possible and us.

Why Brewers Can’t Get Enough

We speak with brewers across the UK, Europe, and North America every day. They want hops that help them stand out, and New Zealand varieties hit that sweet spot between bold aroma and subtle nuance.

Here’s what we’re hearing:

• New Zealand hops bring fresh, distinctive character to lagers and session ales.
• They can deliver gooseberry and white-wine character for brewers chasing a crisp, expressive profile.
• Some bring explosive tropical flavour and leave an impression, whether used sparingly or boldly.
• Others are already proving to be a must-have in modern hop-forward beers, with a tropical-fruit character that feels both concentrated and clean.

And because New Zealand’s harvest happens six months apart from the Northern Hemisphere, we’re able to bring you fresh cones and pellets at a time when stocks from Europe and North America are running low.

A Shared Vision

New Zealand hop growers demonstrate forward-thinking by actively farming and breeding new varieties. They trial sustainable practices and invest in long-term soil health and biodiversity, aligning perfectly with our values at Charles Faram.

Through our relationships, we’re also part of discussions about what brewers want next—whether it’s new tropical varieties, dual-purpose hops, or something that bridges classic and contemporary profiles. You, the brewers, are part of that conversation, and we’re proud to represent your voice in those fields halfway around the world.

From Our Cold Store to Your Fermenter

Once the hops land in the UK, they go straight into our climate-controlled storage, where they stay fresh and potent. Be assured we’ve got formats, volumes, and technical support tailored to your needs.

You want to make beer that people remember.

We want to make sure you’ve got the hops to do it.

Explore our full range of brewing ingredients and discover how Charles Faram can help you brew your next great beer.