What Is So Special About Pure Manuka Honey?

At Midlands Apiaries, New Zealand's largest supplier of wholesale Mānuka honey, we are passionate about sharing the remarkable story behind our premium Mānuka honey. Join us on this informative journey where you’ll discover what makes pure Mānuka honey truly special and how New Zealand’s rarest honey could make for an excellent addition to your business’s inventory.

Midlands Apiaries takes great pride in our role as stewards of genuine Mānuka honey. Our journey begins with the dynamic work and labour of our valued honeybees, tirelessly collecting nectar from the blossoms of the indigenous Mānuka tree (Leptospermum scoparium). These majestic trees, found in some of the most remote regions in New Zealand, are a symbol of the untamed beauty and rich biodiversity of our land.

Follow this detailed article to get an understanding of the never-ending excitement behind one of New Zealand’s most famous exports. By the end of this, you may even have an idea of how to incorporate our premium Mānuka honey into your own products.

Introduce raw Mānuka honey to your business today!

The Origins of Manuka Honey

The Humble Beginnings of the Manuka Tree 

The Mānuka tree, with its humble beginnings, originates in New Zealand and has cultural significance among the indigenous Māori population. The Māori people have a cherished and deep connection with the Mānuka tree, considering it a taonga or precious treasure. They discovered an astonishing array of applications for this versatile plant, ranging from culinary uses to traditional medicinal remedies and the creation of tools and artefacts.

Māori herbal infusions crafted from the leaves were used to alleviate fevers and soothe stomach problems, while the tree's gum served as a soothing moisturiser for burns and a remedy for coughs. Additionally, mixtures derived from the bark functioned as a sedative, and a mouthwash - offering relief from conditions like diarrhoea and fever. This intricate knowledge showcases the extensive wisdom of the Māori people and their profound understanding of the benefits offered by the remarkable Mānuka tree.

For more information on this topic, please read - “The History of Mānuka Honey in New Zealand”

The Initial Discovery of Monofloral Manuka Honey

While diligently inspecting his hives, beekeeper, Terry Bone noticed an intriguing phenomenon – his bees were gathering nectar from the blossoms of the Mānuka bush, ignoring other flower varieties. This bizarre observation prompted Bone to explore deeper into the honey produced by his hives, ultimately leading to the development of a pioneering method for identifying and harvesting monofloral Mānuka honey.

The journey of monofloral Mānuka honey took a significant leap forward with the involvement of Dr Peter Molan, a prominent biochemist from the University of Waikato. In the 1980s, Dr Molan embarked on research to explore the suggested antibacterial properties of honey. It was during this investigation that Molan discovered Mānuka honey’s unique nature, setting it apart from other honey types.

Dr Molan's groundbreaking findings uncovered a reported connection between the remarkable activity of Mānuka honey and the presence of a compound known as methylglyoxal (MGO). While there have been subsequent discoveries of MGO in conventional honey varieties, Mānuka honey has been suggested to have exponentially higher concentrations of MGO. At Midlands Apiaries, we take great pride in our role as a major supplier of this extraordinary natural resource, ensuring that the Kiwi legacy of great knowledge and insights continues to thrive in every jar, barrel or IBC of our premium Mānuka honey.

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The Unique Composition of Manuka Honey

What Makes Manuka Honey Any Different?

From a physical perspective, Mānuka honey holds several differences compared to conventional honey. Firstly, the thicker viscosity of monofloral Mānuka honey is one of the most obvious features. Our honey is always produced to maintain its amber colour which also offers an earthier taste compared to more typical honey.

While every type of honey possesses a unique and recognisable taste, monofloral Mānuka honey exhibits a range of different tones and notes. Furthermore, Mānuka honey stands out from multifloral varieties due to its noticeably subtle creaminess. According to many, the nutty undertones, combined with a touch of bitterness, contribute to a multi-dimensional experience of sweetness and earthly tastes.

From a biochemical perspective, several unique bioactive ingredients within Mānuka honey have gotten a lot of attention. The most notable is MGO. MGO is a substance that is found in most honey varieties but is supposedly found up to 20-fold times higher in monofloral Mānuka honey.

Is MGO The Most Important Aspect of Manuka Honey?

Many hold the opinion that MGO is the most vital aspect of Mānuka honey; however, there’s more to it than just one biochemical. Firstly, all our monofloral Mānuka honey can be delivered to your business as UMF™-verified. This well-known gold standard method of certification requires four unique factors to be present in certain concentrations. MGO is one of these four factors, and it represents potency which is a key driver for Mānuka honey purity.

The other factors include:

 - Leptosperin - for authenticity
 - Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) - for shelf-life
 - Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) - for freshness

How Can Midlands Apiaries Contribute To Manuka Honey Products?

Can Midlands Apiaries Provide Me With Year-Round Supply?

As a trusted B2B honey supplier, we have established a comprehensive network for sourcing monofloral Mānuka honey from different regions of New Zealand. Our processes involve extensive services for handling, relocating, and transporting honey supers (large honey boxes or groups of hives). This process is efficiently managed by our extensive fleet of specialised beekeeping trucks and helicopters. Once unloaded, the honey supers are stored in a temperature-controlled room, ensuring optimal conditions until extraction. It’s our priority that we maintain the chemical composition of our pure Mānuka honey.

Our incredible bees work diligently to collect pollen and nectar from local flowers and return to the hive to deposit their precious findings into the honeycomb. Thanks to our strong network of local beekeepers, our dedicated transport trucks are constantly on the move, travelling across New Zealand. This vast-scale capacity, combined with our extensive supplier network across the country, enables Midlands to ensure a for your business.

What Other Manuka Honey Services Do Midlands Apiaries Offer? 

While Midlands Apiaries prides itself on ensuring year-round supplies of wholesale Mānuka honey, we have many more offerings when your business partners with us. Most importantly, we can offer high volumes of UMF™-certified Mānuka honey for your business. This gold-standard method is desired by Mānuka honey businesses worldwide due to its extensive testing criteria, ensuring 100% pure New Zealand Mānuka honey. For more information on UMF™, please read - “UMF™ Mānuka Honey Grading Explained”

Additionally, we also have a cutting-edge packing facility that incorporates advanced technology, enabling us to create distinctive packaging solutions that set your products apart from the competition. We understand the importance of packaging in capturing consumers' attention, and our facility offers many options in terms of shapes, sizes, and materials to cater to your specific requirements.

To bring your Mānuka honey vision to life, we have assembled a team of highly skilled designers who possess the creativity and expertise to blend your ideas into visually stunning packaging. They work closely with you to understand your brand identity and translate it into captivating designs that align with your vision and target audience.

Midlands Apiaries Can Provide You With 100% Pure New Zealand Manuka Honey

Midlands Apiaries is the perfect partner for your brand. Wherever your business sits in a specific industry, i.e. skincare, natural foods, or genuine Mānuka honey provider - we have all the latest technology and expertise to deliver what you want and when you need it. In addition, our widespread Mānuka honey supply and production operations can work with you to achieve your commercial goals.

We also offer the services of a highly knowledgeable sales and marketing team. So, if you’re looking to bring a fantastic brand to market, our team of professionals can plan a pathway to your launch. With an extensive network of honey supplies and laboratories - Midlands Apiaries can provide your business with everything it needs.

Additionally, as the largest New Zealand supplier of wholesale Mānuka honey globally, Midlands Apiaries knows a thing or two about quality. An accredited, independent laboratory tests each batch of Mānuka honey from Midlands Apiaries for certification. We are very aware of the stringent requirements set forth by UMF™HA. Our undeniable expertise in crafting Mānuka honey will give your business the necessary confidence to deliver quality products consistently. Get in touch with us today for more information about how Midlands Apiaries can make for a beneficial partner in your budding business.

REFERENCES:

Molan, P. C. (1992). The antibacterial activity of honey: 1. The nature of the antibacterial activity. Bee world, 73(1), 5-28.