Hives to homes the natural way
ACROSS the length and breadth of New Zealand, through both North Island and South Island, the bees are working their magic. From the manuka bushes in wild, remote areas, they’re harvesting the pollen that creates some of the world’s finest honey.
Yet it’s not simply a work of nature. Manuka honey represents teamwork with the experts from New Zealand’s Manuka Doctor. The natural attributes of manuka honey have increasingly been noted by scientists and Manuka Doctor makes sure that only the very best honey is collected and sent around the world.
Manuka Doctor has a team of beekeepers to look after its astonishing 60,000 hives on its own land. The fact that the bees have their own private property means they’re only disturbed when necessary, and the surrounding areas are free from pesticide and other interference.
The honey is harvested from the hives, right, by hand and the raw comb is transported to the manuka honey HQ.
There it is used to fill the very pots that the growing legion of manuka honey fans open at home on their breakfast tables.
The New Zealand company proudly proclaims that it can trace its honey from hive to home – it only sells 100 per cent New Zealand manuka honey and there’s a ‘New Zealand Made’ logo on every pot. That logo is an important quality mark, reassurance that the product is pure New Zealand honey.
Manuka honey is a premium product and some brands have been known to mix manuka honey with cheaper European honey.
It is, however, almost impossible to import honey into New Zealand, which prevents government-certified New Zealand companies from, well, doctoring their products with honey from elsewhere.
The New Zealand government has even passed laws forbidding manuka honey from being exported unless it has passed its own purity tests. Manuka honey is gifted with significant levels of antimicrobial activity. The number on the pot is the
Strength
methylglyoxal (MGO) content that relates to the strength of antimicrobial activity, giving the ability to kill or slow the spread of microorganisms, including bacteria, parasites and fungi. The greater the number, the stronger it is.
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, speaks highly of it, favouring a spoonful with her breakfast cereal.
To go along with its honey, Manuka Doctor has also created a rich array of honey skincare products including moisturisers, facial oils, toners and face masks that can target problems such as dry skin, ageing and wrinkles.
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