Possibly one of South Africa’s most unique hop varieties. Unlike most high-alpha varieties, African Queen possess a considerably rich and complex aroma. Developed by SAB Hop Farms in George, South Africa, African Queen was created by hop breeders Gerrie Britz and Beverley-Anne Joseph. Development began in 1998 and concluded with its commercial release in 2014.

So potent is African Queen’s aroma breeder Beverley-Anne (2013) told Voice of America, “If you walk through the fields where we’re growing it you just smell passion fruit – actually a variety of fruit flavors, like gooseberry and blackcurrant aromas. If we kiln it we get that same aroma.” (Taylor, 2013, para. 14)

It is described as featuring a fruit-forward aroma profile with heady elements of berries, black currant and stone fruit alongside hints of chillies, lemongrass and even bubble gum.