New Zealand Manuka Honey – A Transformative Experience

NEW ZEALAND
Heather Markel, Writer, Speaker, Photographer, Traveler, Business Strategist
Discovering a whole new level of food, one of the joys of international travel…
Honey used to be a sticky, gooey substance that other people used in their tea. I only used it to mix with lemon juice if I felt a cold coming on. Otherwise, it would crystallize in its jar, hidden behind more utilized foods on some shelf, unattended, until it was thrown out, months past its expiration date.
After a few months in New Zealand, my perspective of honey has shifted to new dimensions I never imagined. Much like Neo in the movie “The Matrix” – once you’ve been reborn into the world of New Zealand honey, you can’t go back to ignorance any longer. In fact, I’m embarassed at just how ignorant I’ve been for most of my life! I can proudly say I’ve shifted from honey ignorance, to honey confusion to amateur honey connoisseur. At least in my own mind.
What’s So Special About New Zealand Honey?
Don’t know what the big deal is? I didn’t either! Here’s where it starts – have you ever hear of Manuka? Back in the US, I heard some honey with this manuka stuff is supposed to be good for coughs and chest infections. Great marketing, I thought. I had no idea what a manuka bee was as opposed to a good old-fashioned bee. I wondered if manuka bees might have super powers or something. Now that I’m in New Zealand, it’s more like, “Manuka? Raw manuka? Which kind of manuka?…” It turns out, manuka isn’t a bee, it’s the flower the bees pollonate. Yes, sounds much more logical. However, manuka isn’t a flower like I’m used to – it grows on trees. Somehow, I think of bees pollinating flowers that shoot up straight from the ground. In New Zealand, they use flowers on the manuka tree. Just when I thought I was getting the swing of all things manuka, I learned it can be white or shades of pink. Manuka is the Maori name for this flowering tree.

The manuka tree. Sometimes it’s white….Photography by Heather Markel. Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved.
What’s The Big Deal With Manuka Honey Anyway?
In New Zealand, they use manuka honey in everything. And I do mean everything. I had no idea before coming here that manuka honey for the skin was a thing. Did you know it can help with eczema? Now you do. My favorite cosmetics here have been from Living Nature. They use honey in most of their skincare products, and, bonus, if you’re ever in Kerikeri, you get about 15% off everything just for shopping in the store. And, if you hit one of the sales, yowza! Bees are everywhere which is lovely to see. And honey stores are as prolific as Starbucks in New York. Throughout the country, I’ve come across honey hand cream, honey lipgloss, and bee venom serum (love it by the way!) There’s honey glazed ham, beeswax covered cloth to wrap your food, honey lozenges…sorry, I digress.
The big deal about manuka is its alleged antibiotic properties. However, from a practical perspective, I’ll just say the honey in New Zealand not only tastes AMAY-zing, but it’s consistency is also smoother and richer flavored, without all the sweetness, than anything I’ve ever tasted in America. And I’ve bought honey from local farm stores back home, so I’ve tried the non-supermarket brands. It doesn’t seem to crystallize here, and it’s the perfect consistency no matter what temperature.

The manuka tree. Sometimes it’s pink….Photography by Heather Markel. Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved.
If that’s not enough to make your mouth water, let’s move on to the FLAVORS of honey. I can’t even pronounce a bunch of them, but suffice to say there are probably almost as many kinds of honey as there are wines in the world. I mean, that could be a slight exaggeration, but there are a lot. So you’ve got honey mixed with different flowers which brings you in one direction. You’ve got manuka honey, and then, you’ve got kanuka honey. I had never heard of it, but, yep, it’s the newest thing to hit the market, though has a lot less science behind it, for now. If that’s not enough flavor for you, then you’re sure to delight in honey mixed with ginger, one of my favorites, or, how about bee pollen, or blackcurrant! I would never have imagined, in my wildest dreams, that I would one day breakfast on toast mixed with peanut butter and blackcurrant honey, and yet, it really happened, repeatedly, since discovering it.

OK, But Say More About The Antibiotic Properties
If you’re not yet convinced of my honey expertise, let me guide you into the most confusing part about honey – the grading system. As a consumer, let me be point blank honest – this part of honey confuses the shit out of me. It turns out there are two grading systems, one based on science, the other based on marketing. One is UMF (Unique Manuka Factor), the other is MGO. MGO stands for the antibacterial compound naturally found in honey, apparently called MethylGlyoxal. The UMF grading system goes from about 5 to 25, whereas MGO can go into the hundreds or even thousands. Though they measure completely different things, which is why it’s so damn confusing, there is a correlation between the two. MGO, however, is easier for the consumer, generally speaking, and lets you know the function of the honey. What the hell do I mean? (I’ve asked that question of a lot of expert bee-keepers I’ve met here.) Thanks to The Bay Of Islands Honey Shop, I got a nice diagram to help you understand:

“Can’t they make this grading system easier?”
As you can see, New Zealand manuka honey can be ingested, or used on the skin. It’s the latter part that’s new for me! Using a manuka honey with an MGO grade over 200, you can use manuka honey for eczema, even pimples, mouth sores, and more. Pretty amazing for a natural substance!
Buying Manuka Honey
Something strange happened during my time in New Zealand – I’m no longer allowed to ship honey outside of New Zealand. I’m not clear why, but honey manufacturers do seem to be able to ship internationally, so let’s hope that remains in effect! However, the price of postage just increased. 🙁
My favorite place to buy honey and fresh beeswax has become The Bay Of Islands Honey Shop. The first time I went, I learned one of the owners speaks French and has had a very interesting life around designing and bees. Every time I buy a jar of honey, I think, “there’s no way I will ever finish this,” and yet, I do, and I go back for more. With the warmer weather came the treat of finally seeing the bee colony at the back of the store, complete with a guided tour! Bees are fascinating, and we learned about all the different jobs, the lazy males, and how the girls get shit done! Female power! I did have quite a chuckle at how the hive works. I also learned that the bee-comb perfect hexagon shapes are made by the bees. Pretty magical. On a side note, if you’re at all a fan of Roald Dahl, like “Charlie And The Chocolate Factory,” you should read his short story, “Royal Jelly.” It’s disturbing, yet, well, he has quite an imagination!

An inside look at a bee hive colony.
Photos by Heather Markel. Copyright 2020, All Rights Reserved.
If You Are What You Eat, Then I’m Pretty Sweet!
I now have honey on my breakfast yogurt, honey in my evening tea with water and fresh lemon (which I have almost every night, as opposed to just when I’m feeling a bit under the weather) and honey on my toast. I haven’t tried honey on my face yet, but I intend to. I sometimes eat a spoonful of honey. I’ve even discovered honey with turmeric! (Delicious mixed with warm coconut milk, just suggesting you try it. Go on, you can do it!)
I certainly didn’t expect to develop such a deep relationship with honey, but that’s travel for you. Always connecting you to unexpected flavors and making your life sweeter and richer.
I always wondered what the fuss was around manuka honey so now I get it! I love honey & have only just finished the jar I bought in New Zealand at the start of the year. To me manuka was all about hype & an excuse to make it really expensive! You’ve made me see it in a whole new light. And I had a honey facial once in Hawaii & it was amazing!
Glad I could enrich your Honey expertise. 🤣 I use honey on everything now and actually last night substituted sugar for manuka/kanuka honey. Much better!!
Up until a couple years ago I would only ever have thought about honey and lemon in hot water when I was sick, like you said. But now I use it a bit more in cooking or as a condiment in a really good charcuterie board. I’m interested to try it with the turmeric and coconut milk, and I know it has many health benefits. Looks like you’re never short on supply there
Isn’t that strange? I just never imagined Honey has so many uses and variations. Definitely no shortage here!
I had no idea! I grew up living in the next suburb over from a suburb called Manuka, and my high school was in that suburb – in Canberra. I also knew they were trees, as the Manuka tree is also native to Australia. Even tho it’s native to NZ it’s regarded as invasive 🙁 I was vaguely aware of Manuka honey and it’s properties, but have never tried it, and clearly New Zealanders have taken it to a whole new level! Great post Heather.
Right? It is really surprising Oh don’t get me started on all the invasive stuff over here omg!! Yes it is on a while space time continuum of its own over here!!
This was such a fun article to read! I had never heard of manuka honey before, but if I ever make it to New Zealand I am definitely trying it–both to eat and for skincare.
Glad you enjoyed! I had no idea before coming here what a big deal it is
I’ve heard about the health benefits of manuka honey before, but I found your article really interesting and full of great info!
Glad you found it interesting and yes, has so many health benefits I didn’t know about!