Mamaki: Hawaii’s Gift for Wellness, Culture & Community
Mamaki has supported wellness for generations through deep-rooted tradition in Hawaiian culture. As more people turn to healthy beverages, plant-based drinks, and seek cultural connections, mamaki is going through a new renaissance. It unites ancient healing wisdom with modern science, bridging Hawai‘i’s past with today’s wellness movement. More than just a herbal tea it symbolizes sustainability and a strong bond with Hawaii’s land, culture, and people. Mamaki is now found in more homes and shops across the Islands and beyond. Its unique taste, rich heritage and health benefits help mamaki stand apart from other herbal teas.
Mamaki’s Rich History
This endemic plant, which grows wild in the Hawaiian rainforest, is used in traditional Hawaiian medicine called lāʻau lapaʻau, meaning “plants that heal.” Lāʻau lapaʻau’s holistic approach to healing involves physical, spiritual, and emotional restoration and balance. Ancient Hawaiians practiced a “tea ceremony” with tea brewed from mamaki leaves, which they believed would help purify and heal the person. This tea was used to treat physical ailments, such as broken bones and sprains, as well as to cleanse emotional afflictions, including anger and depression.
The plant also has other uses. Mothers fed mamaki berries to newborns to calm colic and thrush. The plant’s fibrous bark was woven into binding cords and pounded into papyrus. (Department of Native Hawaiian Health, n.d.; Hawaii ʻUlu Cooperative, n.d.).
Therapeutic Value and Adaptogenic Properties
Modern research supports many of these traditional uses by identifying key compounds responsible for mamaki's benefits. It is naturally caffeine-free and rich in antioxidants, polyphenols, and anti-inflammatory compounds. Compared to other teas, mamaki boasts higher levels of potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Studies have shown it contains more catechins (natural antioxidants) than oolong or black teas, linking these antioxidants to improve overall health and vitality. The presence of rutin, a stress-fighting antioxidant, further contributes to its ability to reduce inflammation and support a calm, balanced state of being. Emerging research also suggests mamaki may support memory and brain health.
While the term "adaptogen" isn't explicitly used to describe mamaki,, its traditional and scientifically supported properties strongly align with the characteristics of adaptogenic herbs like moringa and turmeric. Adaptogens help the body adapt to various stressors and maintain balance. Mamaki's ability to:
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Reduce stress: Through compounds like rutin and its general calming effects, it aids in managing stress responses.
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Support multiple bodily systems: It contributes to cardiovascular health, aids digestion, promotes liver health, and helps fight infections, indicating a broad systemic balancing effect.
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Restore balance: Its historical use in lāʻau lapaʻau for purification and restoration, along with its modern benefits like reducing inflammation and regulating blood sugar and pressure, points to its role in bringing the body back to equilibrium.
These attributes suggest that mamaki acts in a manner similar to adaptogens, helping the body achieve homeostasis and resist various forms of stress (whether physical, emotional, or environmental). Its holistic impact on wellness, reducing inflammation to supporting mental clarity, underscores its potential as a natural apoptogenic remedy.
Mamaki health benefits according to MDPI (Bacani, 2023):
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Lowering cholesterol
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Lowering blood sugar
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Reducing blood pressure
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Supporting cardiovascular health
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Reducing inflammation
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Reducing stress
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Aiding digestion
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Fighting infections (viral & fungal)
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Promoting liver health
The Science Behind Mamaki’s Health Benefits
Mamaki now has some scientific backing for its health benefits. It is naturally caffeine-free and rich in antioxidants, polyphenols, and anti-inflammatory compounds. It also contains high levels of potassium, calcium, and magnesium compared to other teas. This makes it a gentle and nourishing choice for anyone seeking a mindful path to wellness (Iwaoka, 2011).
Compared to familiar teas, mamaki holds its own. Studies show it contains catechins (natural antioxidants) also found in green tea but in higher amounts than in oolong or black teas. These antioxidants are linked to improved overall health (Kartika, 2006).
Mamaki also contains rutin (a stress-fighting antioxidant) that helps reduce inflammation and supports a calm and balanced body (Iwaoka, 2011). Emerging research suggests mamaki may also support memory and brain health with age (Matsuda, 2023).
Whether you have known mamaki your whole life or are just discovering it, its appeal is the same. Offering a simple and steady ritual rooted in nourishment this tea feels personal yet shared. In a world of quick fixes, it reminds us that wellness can be thoughtful, especially when rooted in history.
What Does Mamaki Taste Like?
Mamaki offers a subtle, earthy, and comforting flavor that transcends other popular caffeine-free herbal teas like chamomile and peppermint.
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Taste: Nutty and earthy
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Bouquet: Vegetal, with hints of straw and light mint
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Body: Medium-light
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Liquor: Light golden brown to brown
Mamaki tea's earthy flavor is similar to green tea but milder and less grassy. Unlike green tea which can be astringent or bitter, mamaki offers smooth nutty notes of pistachio and a soft vegetal aroma. You might think of it as green tea’s calmer and earthier cousin.
It also shares the lightness and subtlety of white tea but with more body and flavor. If you have tried rooibos then you may notice mamaki is less sweet and has a more herbal and forest-like complexity.
Overall, mamaki is soothing and approachable with a natural sweetness. . These characteristics make it a delicious caffeine-free option.
How to Brew Mamaki
For the perfect cup, steep one heaping teaspoon of mamaki leaves in water heated to 205°F (96°C) for about five minutes.
This method brings out the tea’s gentle complexity. Enjoy it hot or cold. Mamaki is naturally caffeine-free and packed with essential minerals and makes it a great choice for daily vitality without added sugar or stimulants.
Ways to Drink Mamaki Tea
Mamaki’s mild, earthy flavor and gentle effects make it easy to include throughout your day.
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Morning: Enjoy pure mamaki or a blend with herbs like mint (similar to our Mint Mamaki blend). It offers a calm, caffeine-free start to your day.
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Afternoon: Blend mamaki with calming herbs such as lemongrass, chamomile and mint (like our Nanea blend). This helps maintain focus and avoid the afternoon slump without caffeine.
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Evening: Combine mamaki with relaxing herbs like ashwagandha, cinnamon and chamomile (found in the Mahina blend) to support restful sleep and a balanced mood.
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Post-Workout: Pair mamaki with botanicals like turmeric and ginger (as in our Olena) to aid recovery and provide anti-inflammatory support.
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Immune Support: Blends with hibiscus or lemongrass alongside mamaki (such as Mana and Hawaiian Wellness) offer natural antioxidants benefits.
Many people find that mamaki’s natural nutty taste works well on its own or combined with these herbs. This makes it a versatile base for different wellness needs throughout the day.
A Living Connection to ʻĀina
There is 400-year-old oli or chant that refers to mamaki as the fixer of the forest. This benevolent plant plays an active role in restoring balance to the rainforest and land. It supports soil health, helps native species thrive, and provides food for the endangered Kamehameha butterfly, one of Hawaiʻi’s few native butterflies (Haines, n.d.).
At 2,400 feet on the slopes of Mauna Loa, over 8,000 mamaki trees grow across 24 acres of volcanic soil. The farmers who tend them follow practices rooted in tradition and innovation. They hand-pick every leaf and adhere to Korean Natural Farming practices, which eschew the use of any chemicals. These farms are Certified Naturally Grown and Non-GMO Project Verified and we are proud to source directly from them.
Most mamaki comes from small family-run farms on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, and Oahu. These growers are also cultural stewards and community builders. Through their work, ancestral knowledge lives on, local economies survive, and sustainability is practiced.
Mamaki grown this way supports rural communities, protects native ecosystems and honor a way of life rooted in connection and care. It is worth pausing to ask: Where does your tea come from? Whose hands tended it? What legacy does it carry?
The Cultural and Healing Roots of Mamaki Tea
In every cup of Mamaki you taste more than tea. It supports local growers, honors cultural wisdom and celebrates a long standing connection to ʻāina. It invites us to slow down and connect more deeply carrying forward traditions that nurture both body and spirit. A great reminder that true wellness is rooted and shared with intention that can be passed down with aloha one sip at a time.
Our Mamaki Tea Collection
20 Count Tea Bags
Loose Teas
References
Bacani, A. (2023). A Comprehensive Insight into Māmaki (Pipturus albidus): Its Ethnomedicinal Heritage, Human Health Research, and Phytochemical Properties. MDPI 12(16):2924. PMC PubMed Central. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10459036/
Department of Native Hawaiian Health. (n.d.). Guide to Selected Plants of the M˜la L˜‘au Lapa‘au. John A. Burns School of Medicine University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Retrieved from https://nhcoe.jabsom.hawaii.edu/_docs/nhcoe-maladirectory5x8-2014.pdf
Hawaiian News Now. (2015). Hawaiian Word of the Day: Kuleana. Retrieved from https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/28832829/hawaiian-word-of-the-day-kuleana/
Hawaii News Now. (2018). Hawaiian Word of the Day: Kupuna. Retrieved from https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=4f0af9271005a136708c4bbffb82ab13fb7e900d8fe1ba8d1dd91a2013ff16c1JmltdHM9MTc1MDExODQwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=031b51e7-832f-6c09-19b1-449f82496d3f&psq=kupuna+word+of+the+day+hawaii+news+now&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGF3YWlpbmV3c25vdy5jb20vMjAxOC8xMi8yMS9oYXdhaWlhbi13b3JkLWRheS1rdXB1bmEv&ntb=1
Haines, W. (n.d.). Planting māmaki for Kamehameha butterflies. University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Retrieved from https://gms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/gs/handler/getmedia.ashx?moid=4856&dt=2&g=12
Hawaii Ulu Cooperative. (n.d.). Māmaki: Propagation and Management. Retrieved from https://ulu.coop/mamaki-blog
Iwaoka, W. (2011). Nutrient and mineral composition of dried mamaki leaves (Pipturus albidus) and infusions. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. Volume 24, Issue 1. Science Direct. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889157510001900
Kartika, H. (2006). Nutrients, polyphenols, and total antioxidant activities in Mamaki, Pipturus albidus. University of Hawaii at Manoa. ScholarSpace. Retrieved from https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/items/db285d7b-e1b9-4731-91b3-6ec26f4b708d
Matasuda, K. (2023). Hawaiian native herb Mamaki prevents dementia by ameliorating neuropathology and repairing neurons in four different mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases. Gero Science 46(2). National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10828292/
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