Our Bioactivity Rating System
Why are our Honeys so Unique
All about the Bees
Our Company
New Zealand Honey Co is owned predominantly by the beekeepers and we have been producing honey for over 50 years. We have 20,000 hives and with 50,000 bees per hives that’s a total of approximately 100,000,000 bees.
By carefully moving our hives to each individual crop as it flowers, we ensure the purity of each of the unique honey types we harvest. Many honeys will naturally granulate (crystallise) over time. We have developed a unique process to skillfully control this granulation to produce a soft, silky-smooth texture and a much fuller taste. Nothing is added to or removed from the honey it is only carefully stirred to encourage the natural process of granulation.
Our Location
New Zealand is a small isolated Island Nation located in the South Pacific Ocean with our closest neighbour Australia being approximately 2200 km away. Our climate ranges from temperate in the south to sub tropical in the far north. Isolation has been part of New Zealand’s history and has shaped New Zealand’s unique environment and flora (plants) and fauna (animals).
New Zealand separated from the great southern continent Gondwanaland 80-50 million years ago, during the time in the earth’s history when dinosaurs reigned supreme. As a result of this early separation and isolation much of New Zealand’s present flora and fauna is still from this time. There are ancient Podocarps (trees from when dinosaurs were around), rainforests full of ferns and tree ferns, and beautiful beech forests, which have existed for millions of years.
Our isolation and recent settlement of less than 1000 years, has given New Zealand a truly unique and unpolluted environment. Approximately 1/3 of New Zealand’s land mass is held in the Conservation Estate which includes National and World Heritage Parks. It is in these isolated and unpolluted areas of New Zealand that much of our beekeeping is undertaken. In some of the areas where we have our beehives, beekeeping is the only commercial activity allowed.
Honey Providence
Honey is one of the world's most targeted foods for adulteration and counterfeiting. New Zealand Honey Co is part of an international pilot program to provide evidence of food origin and purity of product. Our Thyme honey is the first in this program and we expect to include all our honeys over time. Oritain is working to restore trust in the world food supply through science.
