Manuka honey, favoured for its medicinal qualities, is produced from the nectar of different species of leptospermum plants, which are native to both Australia and New Zealand.
Manuka Honey is produced in both Australia and New Zealand. It is highly prized for its methylglyoxal content – a naturally occurring compound with medicinal qualities. In Australia, Manuka Honey is stringently tested and certified according to criteria set by the Australian Manuka Honey Association (AMHA).
While Australian manuka honey may also have benefits, it isn't as well-researched and regulated. New Zealand Manuka comes only from the leptosperum scoparium plant, commonly known as the Manuka plant, while Australian manuka can come from any plant in the leptosperum species.
Where does it come from? Manuka honey is made in both New Zealand and Australia, and comes from a flowering plant that is in the tea tree and myrtle families.
In New Zealand, it is called Mānuka, in Australia, it is more commonly known as Tea Tree, but the word Manuka (without a macron, which is used to indicate a long vowel) has been in common use in Tasmania for at least 100 years.
Manuka honey, favoured for its medicinal qualities, is produced from the nectar of different species of leptospermum plants, which are native to both Australia and New Zealand.
Manuka honey is more expensive than most other honey because it is rare and only produced in Australia and New Zealand. The flowers the bees collect the nectar from, to make Manuka honey are from the Leptospermum family, which is native to Australia. Farming Manuka honey costs more to produce than other honeys.
1. New Zealand Honey Co. Dash of Butter raves about this brand above all others: “Having conducted a deep dive into 15 other leading brands of Manuka and purchasing over 6 of them, New Zealand Manuka Honey is the realist of the real and proved to be orders of magnitude better than the rest in both taste and nutrients.”
Honey products are permitted into most Australian states and territories. Honey products must be inspected by a biosecurity officer on arrival, to confirm the honey items are free from contamination. Items that do not meet these conditions will be exported or destroyed at the importer's expense.
Australian honey is highly sought after in global markets for its unique tastes and strong reputation for being produced cleanly and sustainably. All around Australia honey bees visit more than 700 native flowering plants to collect nectar and pollen to produce honey.
What is mānuka honey? Real mānuka honey only comes from New Zealand. It is made from the nectar bees collect from the flowers of the native mānuka bush (leptospermum scoparium). It is a combination of the nectar and the way the bee turns it into honey that gives it its unique properties.
We now know Australia is host to over 80 species of Leptospermum, including the same plant - Leptospermum Scoparium - as is found in NZ. Because of this variety, along with other types of flora, Australian Manuka honey has a different flavor and color profile & is less likely to crystallize.
Capilano honey is 100% pure Australian honey. There's absolutely nothing added, it's just as nature intended.
Manuka tree or Tea tree, as well as its derivative, are very rare plants. They're native only to Australia and New Zealand. Manuka honey is the rarest honey in the world — it accounts for only about 1% of the total honey available today.
What makes New Zealand Manuka honey special, is it has over 200 compounds that are not found in other types of honey. The medicinal trilogy of leptosperin, dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and methylglyoxal (MGO) are signature compounds that are measured in the UMF™ rating to our Manuka honey.
Along with animal by-products such as wool and animal hides, honey is classified as a 'non-prescribed good' under Australian export control legislation, which means that there is no Australian restriction on its export.
1. Manuka. Manuka Honey comes from New Zealand. It is harvested from the blooms of Manuka trees that grow abundantly there.
Eating it regularly in small amounts (a spoonful a day) is recommended. If you're using it as an alternative to sugar and natural sweeteners, manuka honey is absolutely the best option. Let's draw some inspiration from Oscar Wilde here. “Everything in moderation, including moderation.”
Tim Malfroy produces some of the world's best honey in the pristine world heritage Blue Mountains of Australia. Malfroy's honey is a great representation of the terroir of the Blue Mountains with its complex flora and pure environment. The depth of flavour is amazing; this honey is something special.
Kanuka honey has even been hailed as the “new super honey” due to its healing qualities. It shows particularly promising results as a topical treatment for skin disorders. Some scientists claim that some Kanuka honey has even higher levels of MGO than Manuka honey.
Māori pronounce Mānuka as 'maa-nu-ka' with emphasis on the 'maa'. Unfortunately, it has become common in New Zealand and across the world to say Mānuka as 'ma-nuu-ka', stressing the 'nuu', but for us, this pronunciation is quite incorrect.
Woolworths Pure Blend Honey has a malty, mild floral flavour and is 100% natural.