MANUKA HONEY

This rare and wonderful honey is brought to you from New Zealand, where the native Manuka plant (Leptospermum scoparium) grows. It is produced by honey bees who pollinate the Manuka bush, which is also part of the tea tree family.

The honey is monofloral (meaning the bees collect the nectar from only one species of flower) and the manuka plant blossoms for only 2-6 weeks a year which makes it rare and difficult to produce.

It has been known to the Maori for hundreds of years as the ‘healing honey’ . They used the leaves to make a drink for reducing fever and the oil from crushed leaves as an antiseptic for wounds.

The major (but not only) natural antibacterial component of Manuka honey is Methylglyoxol. This is measured in mg/kg and the number on the label shows the level found in this honey. eg MGO 83 is 83 mg/kg . The higher the number, the higher the antibacterial activity. It is rigorously lab tested and fully certified before it can be labelled Manuka honey and is allowed to leave NZ.

Manuka honey has extraordinary and completely natural properties which are unique and make it different to other types of honey. The healing properties are believed to be up to 100 times more powerful than ordinary honey.

Amongst its many uses it is believed to be highly effective in the cure of sore throats and digestive problems, supporting the immune system and it is widely used on burns and cuts, mouth ulcers and cold sores.

In 2004 the NHS licensed medical grade manuka honey to be used as a wound dressing.

It can be taken raw from the spoon, in smoothies and is excellent with lemon and ginger in hot water, it is delicious and can of course be eaten as you would any other honey, on porridge or toast. It is also applied raw to wounds and cuts.

Alex