Our Honey
Our honeybees live in the native mountain forests of the Baton Valley. These forests border Kahurangi National Park, in the remote back country of the South Island of New Zealand. Here our bees are free to forage and gather nectar throughout the woodlands, free from contaminants and competition.
The flavours of the honey we harvest from our hives varies from year to year, reflecting the changes in climatic conditions that our forests experience. New Zealand Valley Gold honey is completely natural, real, raw and traceable. We can tell you exactly where each jar comes from, right down to the hive it was harvested from.
Beech Honeydew
Beech Honeydew is made by the bees foraging in native Beech forest. They collect the nectar produced by a small insect that feeds on the South Island’s native Black Beech tree. It differs from floral honey, which is made solely from nectar collected from flowers. Beech Honeydew has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties plus high levels of antioxidants. Due to the high levels of oligosaccharides which are helpful for promoting probiotic gut bacteria, it is believed to be especially helpful for digestive health.
TASTE: Sweet dark caramel, with a unique flavour reminiscent of golden syrup. Beech Honeydew is dark amber in colour with a silky-smooth texture.
USE: Added to cereal or yoghurt, or mixed into hot drinks or smoothies. Delicious drizzled on toast, or use as a healthy alternative to sugar.
Multifloral Manuka 83+MG
This distinctively rich honey, from the native New Zealand Manuka plant, is well known for its medicinal properties. In addition to Manuka, our Multifloral Manuka honey contains other native New Zealand nectars foraged by our bees, including those from the perfumed Kamahi tree.
Ensuring its purity and quality, this honey is tested to New Zealand MPI standards to guarantee a minimum of 83mg methylglyoxal per kg, equivalent to UMF 5+. Unrefined, high-quality Manuka honey is likely to crystallize or granulate, due to the concentration of sugars. This is normal, but if you prefer your honey runny, just gently warm it.
TASTE: Intense toffee and caramel flavours, with a rich sweetness. Our Multifloral Manuka honey honey is rich golden in colour.
USE: Drizzle on fruit or toast, add to a cheese platter or stir into hot drinks for a delicious flavour. You can also enjoy straight it off the spoon for an energy boost. It can also be helpful for dressing wounds and burns.
New Zealand Native Honey
Our bees gather nectar from the native forest trees surrounding our home. This honey varies from season to season, but includes pollen from the flowers of the Manuka and Kanuka tree, Tawheowheo, Whauwhaupaku or Five Finger, Rata and the fragrant Kaimahi tree. Due to the unique mix of native nectars this honey has a distinctive flavour that captures the taste of our home.
TASTE: Rich, sweet flavours, with a slight herbal character and refreshing sweetness.
USE: An everyday honey to enjoy as a breakfast sweetener, on toast, in drinks, or in cooking.