“For millions of years, bees and flowers have worked together to create countless naturally healthy and flavorful honey combinations.” So says an opening line on the Wedderspoon Manuka Honey website.
At GreenAcres, we like what that image congers up: Bees working feverishly to gather the nectar from the rare and beautiful flora of Manuka trees to produce, in Wedderspoon’s case, just the best-tasting honey this side of New Zealand.
Manuka honey was first discovered by the Maori people, the tattooed, indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, who arrived in that country in several waves of canoe voyages in the 13th century. Once there, they lived in isolation so long, that the Polynesian settlers developed their own unique culture and language and held their ancestral land in great esteem.
By the mid-19th century, the Maori were fully vested in the political structure of New Zealand, and today out of 120 seats in Parliament, seven are reserved for Maori.
Manuka honey is considered both a wonder of nature and, for some, a panacea for the ills of 21st century man. At GreenAcres, we have several customers who “doctor” by Manuka. In other words, they use Manuka honey for their ailments. Rich in live enzymes and other naturally-occurring compounds, Manuka honey is consumed daily by people who have consummate faith in its restorative powers.
There’s probably no other honey in the world that has Manuka’s complex and charismatic flavor profile. It has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar and absorbs easily into the bloodstream. Weederspoon Manuka comes in dark bottles that keep the rich, hazelnut honey protected from the light. Honey, as many know, never becomes rancid.
The Weederspoon website says, “Manuka honey is hazelnut in color falling into the Dark Amber category on the Pfund color grading system. Smelling Manuka for the first time you will quickly discover the subtle notes of fresh rain, and caramelized sugar — New Zealand in a jar. The flavor is equally impressive, as the honey crystals dissolve on your tongue. Your taste buds will come alive as they recognize earthy notes and caramelized sugars with hints of pepper and ginger.”
Hyperbole? Maybe, but once you’ve swirled Manuka honey into tea, or let the smooth, golden liquid roll down the back of your throat, you’ll immediately become a believer.
Every jar of Wedderspoon Manuka is filled with RAW, non-GMO verified honey that is sourced, packed and sealed in New Zealand. And Wedderspoon has created what it calls the KFactor which means there are key factors inherent in its distinctive honey: Depending on the KFactor number on each bottle, Weederspoon guarantees from 65% to 90% of the pollen grains in the honey come from Manuka pollen grains. Weederspoon also guarantees the KFactor rating system is “an approved Manuka grading system in an official letter (which it displays on its website) from New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) who develop standards and regulate Manuka and all other food and agribusiness for the country.”
Manuka honey is considered a superfood for its medicinal potential. Here is what those who espouse its healing properties say only Manuka honey can do:
- Stops the growth of Strep bacteria
- Heals inflammation, particularly in the throat
- Eases intestinal disorders, acid reflux, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
- Helps relieve allergic symptoms
- Soothes skin rashes, acne and exzema
- Works on burns, wounds and scrapes
- Helps relieve symptoms of inflammatory bowel syndrome
Wedderspoon 100% RAW Gourmet Manuka Honey is on sale during the month of June for $18.99 a bottle. Now would be the time to try a miracle jar and let us know how you like it!