About Honey
Is all about honey !!! But how well do you know?
Berringa Manuka Honey
If you're keen to know more about the origins of Manuka honey, here's some more background information.
Manuka honey comes from tea tree plants, in particular Leptospermum polygalifolium in Australia and Leptospermum scoparium in New Zealand.
Over the years there has been some controversy around how to differentiate varying types of Manuka honey. It’s taken a lot of time, money and effort, but there are now clear methods and guidelines to ensure Berringa sources Manuka honey that is pure and authentic. Key naturally occurring chemical markers identified in honey and nectar are now used to classify Manuka honey. These markers include MGO, dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and Leptosperin, which are present in Berringa Manuka Honey in a range of concentrations.
So what makes Manuka honey different from the regular honey you put on your toast?
Aside from its origin, Manuka honey also looks different to regular honey. It’s thicker or more viscous, and typically darker in colour.
Some people can find some brands of Manuka honey slightly bitter and/or too 'gritty', but the overwhelming response we have had to
the Berringa Manuka Honey range is that it really tastes great (another reason to choose Berringa).
Eucalyptus Honey
Berringa Eucalyptus Honey is sourced from several different species of native Australian Eucalyptus tree, including:
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Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora), widely distributed on the eastern plains and tablelands from western Victoria to New South Wales to south-central Queensland.
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Stringybark (tetradonta), native to the Northern Territory and the Kimberley region in Western Australia.
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River Red Gum (camaldulensis), the most widespread Eucalyptus in the country, commonly found along waterways.
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Green Mallee (viridis), found in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and Victoria.
Eucalyptus honey is thought to have some anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, decongestant, antiseptic and antibacterial effects and may help to generally increase immunity.
When massaged into the area, Eucalyptus honey may also help to sooth sprained ligaments, stiff muscles, lower back pain, aches, nerve pain, and joint pain associated with rheumatism.
It may help to heal some wounds, ulcers, burns and abrasions, and is also thought to be effective on insect bites and stings.
It is believed it might also provide some relief from cold and flu symptoms, particularly sore throats and coughs.
Berringa’s Raw Eucalyptus Honey products are certified organic, meaning the honey has been collected from areas where no chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, or other artificial chemicals have been used. While others, such as the Pure Natural Honey, aren’t organically certified, they are still strictly regulated through testing to ensure that there are no impacts of any unnatural or artificial elements used in harvesting and processing the honey.
Berringa Honeycomb
Bees do some pretty amazing things, not the least of which is the creation of their hexagonal wax celled wonder, the honeycomb.
You may have seen a real honeycomb, but have you ever wondered why or how it was created?
The why is simple, bees need somewhere to store honey, pollen and their larvae.
As for the how, well..
Bees make honeycomb using wax from glands on their stomachs or abdomens. Generally speaking a bee needs to eat about two tablespoons of honey to make one ounce of wax, so making wax takes some time!
Some of the bees then make circles in the wax using their body as a tool and then they go on to form the hexagon cells.
But why hexagons?
Well it seems bees are pretty good at maths and geometry too as hexagonal structures are particularly strong and waste no space when used as a building material.
Aren’t bees clever!
Not only is honeycomb delightful to look at, it can also be enjoyed as a delicious treat or given as a unique gift.
Berringa Honeycomb is available in both Pure & Natural and Pure Organic packs.
Serving suggestions include cheese and antipasto platters, or alternatively you can eat it the same way you would honey from a jar.
Of course, like other Berringa products, it is suitable for vegetarians.