Mānuka

Value for beekeeping

Mānuka is a shrub or small tree with tiny, needle-like leaves and white or pinkish flowers that grows in scrub and open land in New Zealand and south-eastern Australia. It is the economically most important honey source in New Zealand beekeeping. Nectar secretion depends heavily on the weather: on windy, rainy or cool days the flowers are unproductive for bees, so the harvest varies greatly from year to year.

Flowering

Depending on the locality it flowers from September to January; flowering in any one area usually lasts a few weeks. Beekeepers move their hives to fit this short window.

Honey and pollen

The honey ranges from dark cream to dark brown and has a strong, earthy aroma. Its gel-like consistency (thixotropy) makes it hard to extract from the comb. Commercially it is graded by the content of certain natural compounds and by New Zealand's official definition rules.

Note for the beekeeper

Because of its high price, fake and blended products are a problem; labels and analysis certificates matter. Because of the climate it is not an important honey source in Europe or Turkey.