Meluka Honey is a brand that is short for Melaleuca Alternifolia, which is a species of tea tree. This is the same species that tea tree oil is produced from, and is native to the Northeast coast of NSW. We infuse our tea tree honey with an extract from our old growth Melaleuca Alternifolia plantation.
Manuka Honey is produced from bees that harvest from the Leptospermum Scoparium species of Tea Tree. This species is native to New Zealand and the East Coast of Australia.
Bees harvesting on ancient mother trees that have evolved over thousands of years and holds an abundance of both active and medicinal properties. These active and medicinal properties express themselves through the honey produced by these healthy bees.
Meluka Honey can be understood as a multi-active honey, meaning it contains multiple levels of activity. This is best summarised by Dr David Rudd who completed extensive research on our Tea Tree Honey:
"A honey with mild monoterpene levels but rich in phenolics could be promoted as a honey that combines the best of Manuka (anti-microbial) with the natural anti-oxidant rich activity of tea tree plants. Tea trees lives in microbial rich and oxidatively imbalanced terrains, swamp like country, which makes the plant express high levels of natural anti-oxidants and anti-microbials to survive in this wet environment. A honey that takes advantage of these natural attributes could be viewed as a ‘combined activity honey’ or a ‘multi-active honey’.
Dr David Rudd's full paper is available to the public - please email beck@melukahoney.com to obtain a copy.
MGO and UMF rating systems have been developed by Manuka honey producing companies and are specific to honey which is produced from the Leptospermum Scoparium species of tea tree. This rating system tests methylglyoxal which is the compound which makes Manuka Honey special. Since Meluka Honey's Tea Tree Honey is produced from Melaleuca Alternifolia species, the compounds are different and therefore MGO and UMF rating systems are of no use.
The compounds which make Meluka Honey special are the monoterpene levels combined with phenolics and results in a multi-active honey rich in anti-oxidant, anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties.
Meluka honey products are completely unpasteurized and unfiltered to remain just as our bees intended, so if your honey does set, please be assured that this is a natural process and attributable to pure, raw unprocessed honey.
To return your honey to liquid form, simply place your jar in warm water for 15 minutes. Also, ensure you store your honey in a cool area away from direct sunlight.
Meluka Honey’s Tea Tree Factor is a unique rating system assessing the level of tea tree extract infusion, certified organic status, origin and traceability in its Tea Tree Honey range. For more information, click here
Hemp seeds are the seeds of a variety of the cannabis sativa plant species, minus the psychoactive compound found in marijuana. Health benefits include a high amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as omega 3s and 6s, as well as a high quality of digestible, gluten free protein. Fibre, Minerals, Vitamin E, B Vitamins including folate and Vitamin D3 are a few other health benefits of this potent plant.
Our tea tree extract is ethically wild crafted from the leaves of the mother trees residing in the old growth area of our farm. Our tea tree extract is an aqueous (water based, not oil based) extract which, unlike tea tree oil, is safe to consume while still delivering the signature anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties of tea tree.