Rums from French Polynesia are making waves

20 February 2026 | Discover
Rums from French Polynesia are making waves

On February 19, an evening event was held at Gault & Millau’s premises, organized by the Delegation of French Polynesia, the Defense Union for the Geographical Indication Rhum Agricole of French Polynesia, and the Vanille de Tahiti Economic Interest Group (GIE). Excellence Rhum was there.

For the Polynesian Minister of Agriculture, a scientist by training, Taivini Teai, rum and vanilla are the two local products to highlight. “This is a commitment to excellence and traceability,” he insists.

Les nouveautés

At Mana’o, the new development was on the side of aged rums. The Mana’o organic aged rum, which has recently reached our shores, took pride of place on the brand’s stand. It delivers delicious notes of quince and old woody plum.

Expanding on Mana’o’s projects, he mentions research into the influence of cane variety on the juice. “Statistically,” he уточed, “it has a concrete impact.” The idea, ultimately, is to showcase ancestral varieties, identifiable through scientific and historical studies, and to find a balance with modern varieties.

Tamure also unveiled a remarkable new release with its aged rum “Heimiti”, distilled in the house’s historic still, a Brazilian still. Woody and tobacco notes emerge generously through a pleasantly rich texture.

As for the terroir, the cane grows on silty soil and ferralitic soil, where it yields lower harvests but develops interesting aromatic concentrations.

Taivini Teai, Ministre de l'agriculture du Polynésie
Les rhums Mana'o
Les rhums T de Tahaa
Youk Moux présentant les rhums Tamure

Des maisons toujours présentes

Although there were no new releases from the other houses that evening, it was a pleasure to taste certain cuvées again. Let us mention the excellent T Rhum Ambré, aged in new American oak barrels that underwent a heavy toasting. With its toasted notes and hints of nuts, it serves as a perfect bridge between the worlds of whisky and rum.

The rums of Tahaa, T Rhum, are grown on three different types of soil: basaltic soil, coral soil, and red ferralitic soil.

At Manutea, we particularly enjoyed the XO, one of the oldest rums available in the French Polynesian range. Aged in ex-Banyuls casks and American oak, it offers pleasant wine-like and woody notes, with a touch of passion fruit.

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Rédigé par

Matthieu Lange
Conseiller en spiritueux