Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium)
Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is a shrub or small tree of the myrtle family from which mānuka honey is made in New Zealand.
Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is a shrub or small tree of the myrtle family from which mānuka honey is made in New Zealand. It is the dominant species there of the genus Leptospermum, which has over 70 species in New Zealand and Australia. It does not grow in Ukraine or Europe: mānuka honey is imported from New Zealand.
Monofloral mānuka honey is honey gathered mainly from the nectar of L. scoparium. It is distinguished by chemical markers of the nectar (2′-MAP, 2-MBA, 3-PA, 4-HPA) together with DNA. A close relative is kānuka (Kunzea ericoides), whose flowering period overlaps; beekeepers say mānuka honey can come from both species.
Why this matters to you: according to a 2018 study there was then no single regulatory standard for mānuka honey, and methylglyoxal is used by producers as an industry grading system.
Facts
| Botanical origin | Leptospermum scoparium |
|---|---|
| Region | New Zealand (the genus Leptospermum also in Australia) |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) → kind of → Honey plants → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Honey plants
- Which honey it gives
- Mānuka honey
Frequently asked questions
Where does mānuka come from?
From New Zealand, where it is the dominant species of the genus Leptospermum, which has over 70 species in New Zealand and Australia.
Is it true that mānuka honey comes only from mānuka?
Not always. Kānuka (Kunzea ericoides) has a partly overlapping flowering period and beekeepers say the honey can come from both species.
How is mānuka honey identified?
By four chemical markers of the nectar plus DNA; in 2018 there was no single regulatory standard.
Is it true that mānuka grows in Europe?
No. It grows in New Zealand and Australia, especially Tasmania; it does not grow in Ukraine or Europe, so mānuka honey is imported from New Zealand.
What does mānuka look like?
A shrub or small tree of the myrtle family, up to about 12 m tall, found in New Zealand from the coast to the low alpine zone.
Similar
Black locust · Rapeseed · Sweet chestnut · Heather (ling) · Lavender · Rosemary
Sources
- McDonald C. M. et al. (2018) Using chemical and DNA marker analysis to authenticate a high-value food, manuka honey. npj Science of Food 2, DOI 10.1038/s41538-018-0016-6
- Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, NZ Myrtaceae Key: Leptospermum scoparium