Energise with Turmeric & Horopito - NZ Herbal Pyramid Tea
Energise combines the ancient Ayurvedic power of tulsi and turmeric with the distinctive peppery heat of horopito: one of New Zealand's own native botanical treasures, for a caffeine-free brew that is invigorating.
This is a blend born from curiosity and a love of botanicals that deliver real character. Tulsi (holy basil) is one of the most revered plants in Ayurvedic tradition, celebrated for its uplifting and adaptogenic qualities. Turmeric brings its warm, golden earthiness and its remarkable natural compounds. Horopito (Pseudowintera colorata), known as the New Zealand pepper tree, adds a distinctive peppery dimension that is unlike any other botanical, bright, warming, and unmistakably local. Ginger, cinnamon, fennel, liquorice root, and black pepper round out a blend of extraordinary depth and vitality. Caffeine-free, bold, and entirely memorable.
Why You'll Love It
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New Zealand Influenced: Horopito is native to Aotearoa, you will not find this combination anywhere else in the world
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Invigorating and warming: Ginger, black pepper, and horopito create genuine warmth and energy without caffeine
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Rooted in Ayurvedic tradition: Tulsi and turmeric bring centuries of traditional herbal credibility to every cup
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Golden and beautiful: Turmeric gives this brew its characteristic warm golden colour and earthy depth
Origins & Character
Energise brews to a deep golden hue that speaks to its turmeric heart. The aroma is warm and complex, earthy turmeric, sweet tulsi, the freshness of fennel, and an underlying peppery heat from horopito and black pepper. On the palate, the flavour is bold and layered: tulsi's herbal sweetness leads, turmeric adds earthy warmth, ginger and cinnamon build spice depth, and horopito delivers its characteristic peppery finish that lingers with genuine vitality. It is the kind of cup that wakes you up from the inside.
Functional & Wellness Benefits
This blend features horopito (Pseudowintera colorata), a native New Zealand shrub found in mountain and forest environments throughout the country. Horopito has been used in traditional Maori wellness practice and is increasingly recognised internationally for its unique botanical character. Alongside it, tulsi (rama variety) and turmeric are sourced from trusted botanical growers. Ginger, cinnamon, fennel, liquorice root, black pepper, and calendula petals complete this carefully assembled blend.
Traditional Wellness Benefits
Tulsi is revered in Ayurvedic tradition as an adaptogen, traditionally associated with stress resilience, mental clarity, and overall vitality. Turmeric has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties. Horopito was used in traditional Maori medicine for its warming and antimicrobial properties. Ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper each bring their own long traditions of use for warming and supporting digestion and circulation.
*These statements reflect traditional use and are not intended as medical advice.
Energise is a blend that earns its name, invigorating, complex, and New Zealand influenced. A cup that inspires exploration with every sip. Order today with same-day dispatch on orders placed before 3pm.
Tea Bag Packaging Material
Tea bags are commonly made from PLA mesh, paper or nylon. t leaf T uses pyramid tea bags made from plant-based PLA, rather than paper or nylon. Here is how the materials differ and what that means for composting.
PLA Pyramid Tea Bags Used by t leaf T
PLA, or polylactic acid, is a plant-based material that can be made from crops such as corn or sugar cane. Our NeoSoilon® pyramid tea bags are made from sugar-cane-derived PLA. PLA tea bags have been available since the mid-2000s and are not made from petroleum-based plastic.
NeoSoilon® is a woven mesh made by Nasa Corporation from 100% PLA filaments. The manufacturer states that NeoSoilon® is certified by the Non-GMO Project. Our pyramid tea bags, including the tag and string, contain no nylon or polypropylene.
PLA is spun into thread and woven to make the clear mesh. It behaves like a plastic when heated, which allows the seams to be sealed using ultrasonic vibrations. This joins the seams without the need for petrochemical-based sealing plastics. PLA melts at around 170°C, well above the temperature of boiling water.
Commercial composting
Our NeoSoilon® pyramid tea bags are intended for industrial or commercial composting. The material meets the European standard EN 13432, ISO 17088 and the American standard ASTM D6400. Under industrial composting conditions at around 58°C, the manufacturer states that 90% of the material’s weight can biodegrade within 180 days.
In soil or water, the manufacturer estimates that the mesh takes around three years to break down. It is not home compostable. Although materials designed for home composting are available, the option we have assessed breaks down within weeks, which is not practical for a product that needs a long shelf life, such as tea. Please check whether a suitable commercial composting facility is available in your area.
Read more from Nasa Corporation about NeoSoilon®.
Old-Style Paper Tea Bags
Paper tea bags have been used for almost 100 years. The paper fibres do not naturally adhere to each other, so the bags need to be heat-sealed. Most paper tea bag materials use a small amount of petro-based sealing plastic to make this possible.
As a result, a paper tea bag may be about 98% paper fibre and around 2% petro-based plastic. The paper fibre can break down in home composting, but the plastic portion is not compostable or biodegradable. This is not an option we use at t leaf T.
Nylon Pyramid Tea Bags
Nylon pyramid tea bags have been available since around 1996, before PLA tea bag technology existed. Nylon is a petroleum-based plastic. It is not compostable or biodegradable and can persist in the environment for hundreds of years.
Nylon costs substantially less than PLA, which can make it an attractive option for producers focused on cost. We do not use nylon tea bags at t leaf T.
Our View
No tea bag material is perfect. For the convenience of tea bags, we believe our plant-based PLA is the most sustainable option currently available to us. For an option without a single-use tea bag, every tea we sell is also available as loose leaf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are t leaf T pyramid tea bags home compostable?
No. Our NeoSoilon® PLA pyramid tea bags are intended for industrial or commercial composting, not home composting. Check whether a suitable commercial composting facility is available in your area.
What are t leaf T pyramid tea bags made from?
They are made from NeoSoilon®, a woven mesh produced by Nasa Corporation from 100% sugar-cane-derived PLA filaments. The tea bags, including the tag and string, contain no nylon or polypropylene.
