There is a distinct character to each honey, every year, like fine wines. Our coastal collection is simply spectacular!

This year's distinct flavour is a beautiful blend of Manuka, Kanuka and Kamahi, and we have the pollen results to prove it! The location of our apiaries in the stunning Coromandel Peninsula experienced a heavy flowering of the native Manuka, Kanuka and Kamahi trees.

Let's look at these:

'Manuka' (otherwise known as Leptospermum scoparium or Tea tree) is a small native shrub with pointy leaves. Small flowers in white, sometimes pink, grow on the Manuka that blooms in good seasons like summer or spring. Manuka Honey created from the nectar of the manuka tree is super special, let us tell you more!

We have all our honey tested in laboratories here in New Zealand to comply with the Ministry of Primary Industry's guidelines for Manuka Honey. Our Manuka honey grade determined by the levels of Methylglyoxal (MGO), and Non-Peroxide Activity (NPA) found.

Professor Peter Molan was the first to discover the powerful health benefits of Manuka Honey due to its incredible properties. The MGO grading system is the most widely accepted grading system of Manuka Honey in the world.

Manuka Honey truly is a SUPERFOOD! It is antibacterial and bacterial resistant, and this means that bacteria are unable to build up a tolerance to its antibacterial effects.

Manuka Honey is useful for treating everything from a sore throat down to blemishes on your skin or healing cuts and infections. It can improve digestion, boost immune systems and provide you with more energy.

How does the MGO grading work?

MGO levels of 50-125+ = Low level Manuka

MGO levels of 125-246+ = Medium level Manuka

MGO levels of 246+ and upwards = High-level Manuka

Under New Zealand law, there are two classifications of Manuka Honey - Multifloral or Monofloral.

Multifloral means the bees have visited the Manuka bush as well as other floral sources close to the hive. To be classified as Multifloral, the honey must have mainly Manuka nectar above any other source plus meet four naturally occurring markers and a pollen test.

Monofloral means the bees have predominantly collected the nectar from the Manuka bush itself. To be classified as Monofloral, the honey must meet higher levels of two of the four naturally occurring markers and meet the pollen test.

We are proud to be a New Zealand company; we only sell 100% natural, unadulterated New Zealand Manuka Honey.

'Kanuka' (otherwise known as White Tea-Tree) is a native tree/shrub. It has white and pink flowers similar to that of the Manuka Bush. Kanuka leaves do not have the sharp tip of the manuka leaf.

Kanuka Honey is known to have incredible anti-ageing properties because it contains arabinogalactan (AGP's). Kanuka has the highest AGP content of any New Zealand honey. AGP is essential because it has powerful anti-inflammatory properties.

Kanuka Honey also has a compound in it called Hydrogen Peroxide that gives it an anti-microbial activity. It can destroy the DNA of the bacteria present.

'Kamahi' (otherwise known as Weinmannia racemosa) is sometimes quoted as the most familiar tree in the New Zealand Bush of Aotearoa. Maori people used Kamahi as a chest tonic. The inner bark was boiled and used to bathe wounds or burns its antiseptic qualities and accelerating healing.

Kamahi Honey is a vibrant golden buttery coloured honey with a smooth texture and intense aroma. It is a honey of outstanding quality and revered by chefs for its unique flavour. Kamahi Honey contains high amounts of minerals and trace elements for maximum health benefits. North Island Kamahi harvested at the same time as Rewarewa and Manuka can tend to be darker because of the influence of these two deeper coloured nectar sources.

Honey has been linked to health benefits like improved heart health, wound healing and blood antioxidant status. Try using honey to replace other forms of sugar!