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Ever wondered about the process behind creating Wedderspoon Manuka honey? Let us enlighten you.
As the sole UK distributor of Wedderspoon, Natural Health Wholesale Ltd takes great pride in the careful craftsmanship of their Manuka Honey. It owes its existence to the diligent honey bees and the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand. Here's the journey of Wedderspoon Manuka Honey from hive to home.
New Zealand: The Source
What makes New Zealand so special? We believe in going straight to the source. The native Manuka flower, with its captivating blush pink and flashy fuchsia blossoms, thrives in New Zealand. The Manuka bush, known as Leptospermum scoparium, plays a crucial role in our honey bees' mission.
Unlike other producers, Wedderspoon doesn't rely on cultivars or Manuka plantations for harvest. Instead, their honey bees feast on wild Manuka blossoms nestled amidst the crystal-clear waters of Lake Wakatipu and the majestic glaciers of Mt. Cook in New Zealand. Each harvest is a unique reflection of the diverse New Zealand environment, influenced by rain, sunlight, wind, and snow, giving rise to slight, natural variations in colour that we embrace rather than iron out with artificial processes.
The Crucial Team: Honey Bees
It's not just about the location, the team is equally crucial. The honey bees diligently collect nectar from Manuka blossoms, infusing the honey with its character. This natural process ensures that every jar of Wedderspoon Manuka Honey is pure, authentic, and untainted, richly coloured and flavourful, brimming with living enzymes.
Careful Harvesting and Processing
When it's time for harvest, Wedderspoon beekeepers prioritise the health of the bee colonies. They extract raw comb swiftly and discreetly from each hive, minimising any disturbance to the bees, and always leave a portion of honey untouched to nourish the bees through winter.
Once harvested, the honey undergoes a short 40 mile journey to the Wedderspoon factory, conveniently located near the hives. There, warm air is gently circulated around the raw honey using large fans, delicately heating it into a liquid so natural impurities can be filtered out, without ever boiling it or exposing it to fire. The temperature never exceeds the natural warmth of a hive, preserving the honey's vitality and flavour throughout.
Quality and Authenticity
The honey is meticulously harvested, packaged, and labelled in New Zealand, adhering to the highest standards of quality and authenticity. Before any jar is dispatched, it undergoes rigorous testing in independent laboratories, confirming it meets or exceeds the scientific standards for genuine Manuka Honey set by New Zealand's Ministry of Primary Industries, which require the presence of specific chemical compounds and DNA from Manuka pollen.
