Leatherwood honey
Also known as: Tasmanian leatherwood honey
Leatherwood honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of Tasmanian leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida), a rainforest tree that grows only in Tasmania.
Leatherwood honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of Tasmanian leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida). The tree is found only in Tasmania: it grows in rainforest in the west, centre and south of the island, where rainfall is high and fires are rare. It bears large white four-petalled flowers with many stamens and purple anthers.
For Tasmanian beekeepers it is the key nectar source. In a 2007 submission to an Australian parliamentary inquiry, the Tasmanian Beekeepers' Association called leatherwood the only reliable resource in the state: over a ten-year average it could make up 80 % of the annual honey harvest, and 75 % of leatherwood-dependent hive sites were on state forest land.
The honey's main aroma compound is hotrienol, which forms from a terpene diol also present in the plant itself. A 2025 study found that leatherwood honeys from the south and the north of Tasmania differ in volatile and phenolic compounds, pH, electrical conductivity and colour.
Why this matters to you: leatherwood honey comes from one island and one forest tree, so its character can differ between the north and the south of Tasmania.
Facts
| Botanical origin | Nectar of Tasmanian leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida) |
|---|---|
| Taste | Main aroma compound: hotrienol |
| Region | Tasmania only (Australia): rainforest of the west, centre and south |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Leatherwood honey → kind of → Blossom and honeydew honey → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Monofloral honey, Blossom and honeydew honey
- Similar and different
- Mānuka honey, Eucalyptus honey
Frequently asked questions
What is leatherwood honey made from?
From the nectar of Tasmanian leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida), a rainforest tree.
Is it true that leatherwood honey is a kind of eucalyptus honey?
No. It comes from Eucryphia lucida, a separate rainforest tree found only in Tasmania.
Where is it produced?
Only in Tasmania: in the west, centre and south of the island.
How important is it for Tasmania?
According to the Tasmanian Beekeepers' Association, up to 80 % of the annual honey harvest on a ten-year average.
What gives leatherwood honey its aroma?
Its main aroma compound is hotrienol.
What to read next
- Mānuka honey — Mānuka honey is honey from the nectar of the New Zealand shrub mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium), whose origin is checked against a scientific definition.
- Eucalyptus honey — Eucalyptus honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus), medium to dark, with a woody, warm aroma.
Similar
Dandelion honey · Phacelia honey · Coriander honey · Lychee honey · Mesquite honey · Rosemary honey
ℹ️ Honey is mostly sugars: about 82 g per 100 g. Do not give honey to babies under 1 year old because of the risk of infant botulism.
Sources
- Private Forests Tasmania: Tree species – Leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida)
- Tasmanian Beekeepers' Association (2007) Supplementary submission to the Inquiry into the future development of the Australian honey bee industry, House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- Rowland C. Y. et al. (1995) Comparison of organic extractives found in leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida) honey and leatherwood flowers and leaves. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
- Schmidt K. et al. (2025) Characterisation of Tasmanian leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida) honey according to geographical origin. Food Chemistry
- FAO, Krell R. (1996) Value-added products from beekeeping, Chapter 2 Honey