Mānuka is truly one of nature’s special gifts. Despite its global popularity, it is important to remember how rare this plant really is. Mānuka flowers bloom for only two to six weeks each year, making the production of Mānuka honey a delicate and highly seasonal process.

Around 180 years ago, much of Te Ika-a-Māui (the North Island) was covered in Mānuka and other native vegetation. Early European settlers viewed Mānuka as a weed and cleared vast areas of native bush to create pasture for sheep and cattle.

Today, with renewed appreciation for its ecological and medicinal value, Mānuka is experiencing a revival in its natural habitat.

Mānuka Habitat

Mānuka naturally grows from lowland to subalpine environments, thriving on open slopes, riverbanks, forest margins and scrubland where it often becomes the dominant vegetation.

While native to Aotearoa New Zealand, Mānuka has since spread to Australia, the United States, parts of Europe, Israel and South Africa. Mānuka trees typically grow up to three metres tall and are well known for their resilience in harsh conditions.

How Often Does Mānuka Flower?

Small white flowers appear for just two to six weeks between November and January. Individual flowers may only be open for as little as five days, giving bees a very short window to collect nectar.

This fragility contrasts sharply with the hardy nature of the Mānuka bush. Because flowering depends heavily on weather conditions, the availability and price of Mānuka honey can fluctuate significantly from year to year.

Managing Mānuka

Mānuka is a hardwood plant with tough roots, strip-like bark and dense foliage of small, sharp-pointed grey-green leaves. Its flowers range from white to pale pink.

It is believed that human settlement spread Mānuka into some regions where it had not previously grown, leading to challenges for hill-country farmers. Today, however, Mānuka is no longer considered an invasive species and is recognised for its ecological and regenerative value.

How Aotea Uses Mānuka Sustainably

At Aotea, we source our Mānuka from our own nursery on Aotea (Great Barrier Island). The plant grows abundantly here, much as it does in regions like the East Cape and Nelson.

After harvesting Mānuka in accordance with tikanga Māori, we commonly distil the plant matter in our steam distillery. This process uses carefully controlled temperatures to release the essential oil compounds without damaging them.

Harvesting Mānuka honey requires an entirely different approach. Honey is extracted gently from the hives, with close attention paid to the health and welfare of our bees.

The Health Benefits of Mānuka Honey

Mānuka honey is internationally recognised for having some of the highest antimicrobial activity of any honey in the world. When consumed, it can help support the body during winter illnesses, and when applied topically, it has antifungal and antibacterial properties.

Not all Mānuka honey is the same. The strength of its antimicrobial activity is measured using markers such as MGO. Another important distinction is whether the honey is multifloral or monofloral.

Monofloral Mānuka honey is produced when bees gather nectar exclusively from Mānuka flowers, resulting in a higher concentration of bioactive compounds.

Our honey comes from Aotea, an island covered in first-generation Mānuka forest. With minimal cross-pollination from other flowering plants, our honey achieves exceptionally high monofloral purity and is regarded as some of the purest Mānuka honey in the world.