Honey nectar

Tej is an Ethiopian honey wine, or mead, made with honey and Gesho Kitel, a variety of hops found in the highlands of Ethiopia. At Queen Sheba, you can find its signature Tej ($5.99 a glass), which is produced the same way, except this homemade honey wine uses locally produced honey rather than imported, making the wine particularly tangy-sweet. I enjoyed a tall glass of the lustrous golden-yellow Tej and marveled at how the drink went from nectarous to a pleasantly light sour within one sip. I’d heard some Tej could remind one of diesel fuel, but Queen Sheba’s blend is smooth and friendly, memorable without being off-putting. I1704 Broadway queenshebas.com.