How is Honey Made?

Honey is made by the Honey Bee, flying insects that collect nectar and pollen from flowers, plants & trees. Bees return to their hive to process the nectar into Honey and store it in hexagonal wax cells, for future use as food.

Click here to watch a YouTube video about how bees collect and process honey.

Click here to watch a YouTube video explaining why Bees are important to Human survival.

Honey is extracted from the Hive via frames of wax cells, these are processed with hand tools or automatic machines, as well as use of centrifugal force. The Honey is collected and filtered to remove bees wax, before taking a tour of our certified pack house which packs the honey into jars or buckets for sale.

Click here to learn about our packing process.

What is Honey used for?

Honey has been used by Humans for thousands of years for its medicinal and nutritional value as a tasty, edible super food. 100% Raw Honey contains a number of anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-bacterial elements that benefit human health and strengthen the immune system.

High-MG strength Honey's such as Mānuka & Kānuka Honey can be consumed for sore throats & oral hygiene, digestive health, used in remedies for cold & flu symptoms, and can also be applied topically to skin (wounds, cuts, burns, acne, eczema) etc

Human resistance to antibiotics has sparked new interest and scientific research into Honey and what further benefits it can bring to the medical industry. Specialist Honey is also used in wound dressings for veterinarian practices and the equine industry.

Why is Mānuka Honey so Expensive? What is an MG Rating?

Click here to watch a video explaining why Mānuka Honey is rare, and expensive.

An MG rating is one of many methods used to understand the medicinal strength of particular Honeys, such as Mānuka Honey and Kānuka Honey. Generally speaking, the larger the rating number, the higher the medicinal quality. MG testing is undertaken in laboratories to detect the presence of Methylglyoxal, the naturally occurring antibacterial organic compound that gives Mānuka honey it's amazing benefits.

Click here to learn more about MG Ratings and Conversion Charts.

Click here to learn more about our Manuka Honey.

Can i cook with Honey?

Yes, cooking with Honey is a great way to add flavor to baking, breakfast cereals (toasted muesli & granola etc) meat glazing & marinades, stir fry, and much more. We recommend checking out cook books and searching online for Honey recipes & ideas that you may like.

As many people know, Honey is a tasty spread on toast, breads, muffins, donuts and used in desserts and toppings.

However, it's important to remember, heating 100% Raw Honey above temperatures of 37°C will begin to deteriorate the natural health benefits and nutritional value.

Honey is also a liquid, has a lower burn temperature, and in many instances will taste much sweeter than other sugars. You need to keep this in mind when using Honey in Baking recipes.

Is Honey a good sugar alternative? 

Yes, Honey is a great natural replacement for Sugar in baking and any meal or drink preparation. 100% Raw Honey contains a number of nutrient, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-bacterial elements that benefit human health and strengthen the immune system.

Simply replace sugar for Honey, e.g. 2 tea-spoons of sugar in a hot drink can be replaced with 1 or 2 tea-spoons of Honey. Different types of Honey will have different colours, flavors, and behave differently in many baking recipes. 

Honey may have a sweeter flavour in particular baking and cooking recipes, it may also burn more easily at different temperatures. Find one that you like and experiment in your meal prep to find the best result.

Remember, heating 100% Raw Honey above temperatures of 37°C will begin to deteriorate the natural health benefits and nutritional value, leaving only its sweet flavoring behind.

Can i warm Honey to make it runny again?

As with all 100% Raw Natural Honey, Crystallization will reform over time as the Honey settles in the container. This is a completely natural process, and in-fact Honey that has been pasteurized, adulterated, or over processed is less likely to crystallize.

Simply apply a gentle heat to the Honey, running warm water over the container for 20-30 seconds, or putting the container in a small bowl of warm water for a few minutes will restore our Honey to its liquid state. Stirring may be required.

Again if you are seeking the full health benefits of 100% Raw Natural Honey we advise not to heat the Honey over 37°C.

Does Honey really last forever? (Does it go 'off' or expire?)

Honey, in most cases, does not expire. Honey has been known and used by humans for thousands of years for medicinal and nutritional purposes. It has an excellent shelf life attributed to its enzymes, anti-microbial and anti-bacterial elements. The strength of these properties increases in specialist Monofloral Honeys such as Mānuka.

Despite it's liquid state, Honey should also have little to no water content. It's best to keep Honey in a sealed container (to keep moisture out, and prevent fermentation) and store it in a cool, dry, dark area, such as the kitchen cupboard or pantry. Storing Honey in the fridge is also fine, however the lower temperatures will increase the rate of crystallization. (See previous question)

Interesting Fact: Ancient Honey has been found by archaeologists dating anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000+ years old. Honey was also used in ceremonial, burial and mummification processes by many cultures, notably the ancient Egyptians.  

If Honey can ferment, does that mean it can be used to make Alcohol? 

Yes, the most popular alcoholic beverage made from Honey is Honey Mead, and has long been created and consumed for thousands of years, often called 'The Drink of the Gods' or 'The Drink of Kings'.

Honey can also be used in wine making, beer brewing and whiskey production.

What can Bees Wax be used for?

Bees Wax has long been used for a huge range of versatile uses, including candles, envelope seals, arts and crafts, modeling, moisturizers, creams, balms, make up products and much more.

Click here to see a list of 101 uses for Bees Wax!