Buzzing for Manuka
Discover the wonders of this honey in skincare
New Zealand knows a thing or two about a gold rush. From Waihi to Otago, our little country has produced plenty of this valuable element. Today, we’re experiencing another rush, but this time it’s all about our special liquid gold: our honey – namely, manuka honey. Quickly becoming one of our most valuable exports, manuka honey is exported to more than 40 countries and plays a leading role in New Zealand’s rapidly climbing total honey export figures, which are expected to rise from around $285 million, now, to $1.2 billion by 2028. Manuka honey derives from our native manuka bush, which flowers over four to six weeks in early summer. Not just a delicious spread for your morning toast, manuka honey’s unique compounds contain potent antibacterial, antiseptic and soothing properties, which can be measured to receive a Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) rating (the higher the rating, the higher the potency of the product, and also its price). In light of the current global antibiotic resistance crisis, it is now sought after in hospitals to treat and soothe wounds, infections, burns and other skin conditions. As the natural beauty revolution continues to take off, it’s no surprise that demand for this regenerating raw ingredient is booming, with beauty and skincare brands seeking manuka honey for use in their products too. Australian supplement and skincare company Swisse is one such brand, working with Midlands Honey in Canterbury to source manuka honey from the Sharplin Falls and greater Ashburton area to use as the hero ingredient in its Detoxifying Facial Mask. During a special recent visit to some of the Ashburton, Canterbury hives that Midlands sources manuka honey from, Swisse let Good in on some of its insights: Says head of Swisse Skincare Jason Buesst, “We know consumers are becoming more and more health conscious and we are seeing this translate into their skincare routine. They know [that] what they are putting on their skin is just important as what they are putting into their bodies. Our mission here at Swisse is to produce skincare that consumers can trust will work, without the worry of nasty ingredients.”
The Manuka Honey Detoxifying Facial Mask with charcoal and kaolin clay is a naturally absorbent facial mask formulated to purify and detoxify the skin, while leaving it feeling smooth and hydrated. Says Lucy Wearne, public relations manager of Swisse Australia, “Manuka honey works wonders for blemished skin. It is a potent anti-inflammatory, so soothes inflamed skin while healing blemishes. It also helps balance the skin’s pH and contains amino acids which slough away dead skin cells, helping to keep pores clear.”
With the price that manuka honey is demanding now, the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) is tightening up its processes and certified manuka honey accreditation processes, says general manager of Midlands Honey, Steve James.
“Basically, it’s been proven overseas that there is probably more manuka honey being sold than there is produced. There are a lot of counterfeit products out there – that’s the issue – so the idea is to create a supply chain that is absolutely perfect, so that if it comes out of New Zealand and it is exported as an MPI product, then it is 100 per cent guaranteed that that is manuka honey, and it is fully traceable through the factory and right back to the beekeeper – it’s that security.”
James says Midlands Honey works with around 100 independent suppliers who bring honey in from their different sites. “As soon as the honey arrives and goes into the extraction drums an e-certificate has to be raised from the beekeeper, so our government knows exactly what honey comes from where, and what it is.” Even the form of transport that it comes in has to be registered, says James.
“It’s quite nice in a way that any honey that is going to be leaving any place soon is going to be correctly labelled with a traceable production line,” he says.
While the MPI, honey production workers, beekeepers and bees alike do their bit to make the best of what our native flora provides us with, it’s our job too to help our honeybee numbers survive and thrive by being as bee-friendly as possible, so the buzz only gets stronger.
“As the natural beauty revolution continues to take off, it’s no surprise that demand for this regenerating raw ingredient is booming.”