Miele di Manuka: da dove viene? Storia e origine

February 1, 2024

Manuka Honey: Where Does It Come From? History and Origin

By Naturale Bio

A piece of news from these first days of October 2021 that comes from the other side of the world has brought one of our favorite products to the fore: the Manuka honey .

But Manuka Honey where does it come from ? It is precisely the origin of this extraordinary food that Australia and New Zealand are fighting over.

Origin of Manuka Honey, Australia or New Zealand?

The world's major media outlets have covered it, from ABC News to Corriere della Sera. The hearing that will decide who among Australia And New Zealand will be able to register the official trademark “ Manuka Honey ”.

New Zealanders are very keen to claim that the original Manuka plant is native to their land and that the honey obtained by bees from this particular shrub is very different from the Australian one. They therefore want a certification mark , which certifies that only honey from New Zealand can be defined as original “ manuka honey ”.

An origin that dates back centuries, apparently confirmed by history. It is said, in fact, that Thomas Cook himself, the British adventurer who “discovered” the coasts of New Zealand at the end of 1700, immediately fell in love with the Manuka plant. He used its aromatic leaves to make herbal teas.

How Manuka Honey is Made: The Plant and the Bees

There Manuka plant , whose scientific name is Leptospermum scoparium , which seems to have been attributed to Thomas Cook himself, is a shrub that can reach up to 5 metres in height, with scented white flowers.

A plant native to New Zealand , robust and versatile, which grows well here in a completely spontaneous way. The beneficial properties of honey are already part of the strength of the plant itself, which has the ability to produce natural substances that protect it from fungi and insects. Without the need, therefore, to use any type of chemical repellent.

Bees – precious and wonderful creatures, fundamental to the entire terrestrial ecosystem – that produce Manuka Honey are part of the species Apis Mellifera , introduced into this habitat centuries ago from Europe.

The properties of Manuka Honey

In the Maori tradition, it has been used since ancient times for its benefits. The active ingredient contained in this honey, the Methylglyoxal , is much more concentrated than traditional honeys.

This active ingredient has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties , all natural. It can therefore be a valid support for the body to combat seasonal ailments and other minor disorders.

NaturalePiù brand Manuka Honey comes directly from New Zealand: active, raw, pure, 100% natural, with Methylglyoxal certified by analysis at accredited laboratories .

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