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The queen honey bee is the most important bee in the hive. The only female in the colony who can lay eggs, the queen is not really a ruler though. She’s more like the mother of the hive. The queen bee’s intricate relationship with her hive is absolutely crucial to the bees’ health and survival. That makes her pretty special for humans too.What does a queen bee look like?The queen bee looks like a larger, heavier bee. She is caramel in colour, with a longer abdomen and shorter wings. It’s not likely that you will be able to identify a queen bee in your garden though — she spends so little time outside of the hive.A queen bee in a hiveQueen Bee vs Worker BeeThe queen bee is genetically identical to the worker bees. That means that any female larva has

Manuka honey has become the darling of the world in recent times. This special honey from New Zealand has caught the attention of celebrities and scientists alike. But you may be asking yourself: Why is Manuka honey expensive compared to other honey?There are good reasons why Manuka honey demands a higher price. First, it has special properties that mark it out from other raw honeys. Research findings about the health benefits of Manuka have led to increased demand, driving prices up. Second, Manuka honey comes from New Zealand, which is a small country. That means there is a limited supply. But there’s another very simple answer to the question: Why is Manuka honey expensive? Pure Manuka is expensive to produce. This unique honey requires the perfect

If you’re looking for a home remedy for coughs and colds, which doesn’t break the bank, then you should consider raw honey. Over-the-counter medicines are not only expensive, they often come with lots of added sugar or unwanted side effects. And, when it comes to dealing with a cough, many people these days prefer to reach for a natural solution.Raw honey’s unique properties don’t just make it a great home remedy for coughs, it will give your immune system a much needed boost at the same time. What’s more — it tastes delicious! The age-old home remedy for cough is now backed up by Science.Historically, cultures all over the world have used honey for coughs and colds. And now the wisdom of the ages is backed up by Science. Research in

You could be forgiven for thinking that there is something magical about raw honey. But, does honey go bad?Touted as a superfood, raw honey has a wide range of benefits for our health. Raw honey is a very complex substance, containing over 200 components. Research is ongoing, revealing exciting findings for our well-being and medical care.Not only that, given the right conditions, raw honey never expires. This incredible fact has been backed up by Science and Archaeology. Historians were stunned to discover that raw honey found in ancient Egyptian tombs was still perfectly safe to eat!Now that’s a pretty amazing shelf life.Does Honey Go Bad?But what about the modern pantry? Does honey go bad when kept in the average family home? You will be pleased to know tha

If you haven’t discovered Kamahi honey, then you may be in for a pleasant surprise. This sophisticated honey is relatively unknown outside of New Zealand. With a rich golden colour and soft texture, Kamahi has an intense flavour, with notes of caramel. This raw honey doesn’t just taste great — early research suggests it has health benefits, too. There’s no doubt, Kamahi is one of the most underrated New Zealand honeys. In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about Kamahi Honey. We also take a look at the key differences between Kamahi Honey vs Manuka Honey. The Kamahi Tree (Weinmannia racemosa) Kamahi honey is foraged by bees from the elegant white flowers of the Kāmahi tree. One of our most common trees, Kamahi grows all over New Zealan

The question “is honey vegan” is a complicated one. This is partly because, unlike other diets such as keto or paleo, veganism is based not just on health but on a person’s ethical choices — and ethics can be complicated. Not only that, honey is not all produced in the same way. You don’t have to be vegan to be shocked by the practices of some commercial beekeepers. But there are alternatives for those wanting to buy vegan honey. This article outlines the ethical considerations of beekeeping to help answer the question: is honey vegan?    Is Honey Vegan?To understand whether vegan honey is possible, let’s look at what it means to be vegan. Here’s The Vegan Society’s definition of veganism:“Veganism is a philosophy and way of living

Over the past few years, the debate about sugar has certainly been heating up. While the topic remains controversial, there is growing evidence that eating too much sugar has negative effects on human health. For this reason, many people are looking for ways to reduce their sugar intake. So what about honey? Should we use it to replace sugar? Is honey good for you? Unfortunately, the answer to cutting out sugar is not as easy as replacing it with honey. It is important to bear in mind that Honey is also a sugar. So, it must be eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet. However, there are certainly some fantastic reasons for replacing sugar with raw honey.Raw honey has a slower energy release than sugarAlthough they are both sugars, honey and sugar are qu

Most people have heard of the many health benefits of Manuka honey, however, there is a lot more to Manuka than meets the eye. In recent times, NZ Manuka Honey has become incredibly popular around the world, but not many people know about its fascinating background. In this article, we take a look at 10 fascinating facts that most people don’t know about this amazing natural product.1. Manuka honey was not an instant hit in New Zealand.The commercial production of honey in New Zealand began in the late 1870s, with the introduction of moveable-frame beehives. But people in the 1900s actually preferred honey made from wildflowers. It wasn’t until 1991 that the health benefits of Manuka honey became known. And this is when the NZ Manuka honey boom really took off.Up

Manuka honey has gathered a chorus of fans over the last few decades. People are not just excited by its rich, earthy taste, but also about the health benefits of Manuka Honey. But exactly what are the benefits of manuka honey? What is Manuka honey good for? And, what is it that makes Manuka so good for our health? This article explores some of the health claims related to Manuka honey, and explains why scientists and consumers are so enthralled by this natural product.What are the general health benefits of Manuka honey? Manuka honey has strong antiseptic, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These are all valuable when it comes to treating a range of diseases.Thanks to high levels of hydrogen peroxide, all raw honey has antiseptic pr

Manuka honey is produced by bees from the nectar from the Manuka plant (Leptospermum scoparium). Unfortunately, the labelling of Manuka honey is rather more confusing. What are all those numbers and letters? What’s the difference between UMF vs MGO?If you want confidence that you’re buying high-quality Manuka honey, it pays to know the wording on the label. That means coming to grips with UMF and MGO ratings. It’s also important to understand why the NZ honey industry developed these rating systems and the difference between them. Both the UMF and MGO systems were developed to address concerns that consumers were not always buying high-quality Manuka honey. As more people begin to discover the many uses and benefits of this natural product, the price has risen

New Zealand Manuka honey is produced by bees collecting nectar from the Manuka plant (Leptospermum scoparium). Although this official definition sounds simple enough, it is important to understand the science behind the labelling and classification of this wonderful honey. So what is MGO in Manuka honey and why should you pay attention to this important rating?What is MGO in Manuka Honey? MGO stands for Methylglyoxal which is the organic compound responsible for Manuka honey’s strong antibacterial properties. Scientists are still researching exactly how methylglyoxal works with other components to produce Manuka’s unique health benefits.Our Red Label Manuka Honey is certified as MGO 83+ Manuka Honey.Methylglyoxal: The health benefitsThe MGO rating that yo

Most people know that bees make honey. But do you know exactly how bees make honey? If you read on, you may be surprised to find out that the process is very complicated indeed. In fact, it’s hard not to be completely astonished by how these clever little creatures make this incredible natural product.1. Gathering the nectarThe first step for making honey is to find some nectar-producing flowers. Collecting this sweet liquid from flowers is the job of the foraging worker bee, and she is seriously good at it. Using her highly-sensitive antennae, a foraging bee can detect nectar up to two kilometres away. Flowers produce nectar at different times of the day, but the clever bees know exactly which time is best to pay them a visit.The bee sucks up the nectar with her long, s