The Manuka Tree and Its Flower: Where Does Manuka Honey Come From?

White Manuka tree flowers in New Zealand

Every jar of Manuka honey starts with a small tree in New Zealand that flowers for just a few weeks a year. In this article we introduce the Manuka tree andits flower, and why its honey is so precious and unlike any other.

What Is the Manuka Tree?

The Manuka tree (scientific name Leptospermum scoparium) is an evergreen shrub or small tree that grows naturally in New Zealand, and in parts of south-eastern Australia. The word “Manuka” comes from the language of the Māori, New Zealand's indigenous people.

  • Height: about 2 to 5 metres, sometimes taller.
  • Leaves: small, narrow and fragrant.
  • Habitat: it copes with wind and poor soil, and grows on hills, coasts and wild land.

Is Manuka a Herb?

Many people search for “Manuka herb”, but the Manuka tree is not a herb; it's a woody shrub. What reaches you from it is the honey bees make from its nectar, and the oil extracted from its leaves.

The Manuka Flower

The Manuka flower is small, with five petals, white or pale pink, with a dark centre. But the most important thing is that its flowering season is short: only about 2 to 6 weeks a year, in the New Zealand summer (around December and January). Because the season is so short, beekeepers have to have their hives ready at just the right time.

From Flower to Jar: How Manuka Honey Is Made

  1. Nectar: Manuka flower nectar contains a compound called DHA (dihydroxyacetone).
  2. Bees: collect the nectar and turn it into honey in the hive.
  3. Conversion: over time, the DHA in the honey turns into MGO (methylglyoxal), the compound that gives Manuka honey its strength.
  4. Testing: the honey is lab-tested and its MGO or UMF number is printed on the jar. Read our the difference between MGO and UMF.

Why Is Manuka Honey Expensive?

  • A short season: the tree flowers for only a few weeks.
  • Limited places: it's produced mainly in New Zealand, often in remote areas that are hard for hives to reach.
  • Weather: rain and wind during flowering cut production, because bees don't go out to collect nectar.
  • Testing and certification: every batch must be tested in accredited labs.

That's why the higher the MGO number, the rarer and pricier the honey. See Manuka honey benefits and types to find out which grade suits you.

Is the Manuka Tree the “Tea Tree”?

In English, the Manuka tree is sometimes called Tea Tree, because the first sailors to reach New Zealand boiled its leaves and drank them like tea. But note: the tea tree oil you see in skincare products comes from a different tree called Melaleuca, not from Manuka. Manuka oil , on the other hand, is a different oil extracted from the Manuka leaves themselves.

Try Real Manuka Honey

All our products are real Manuka honey, packed in New Zealand, from Manuka Health and Haddrell’s:

We deliver across Bahrain and ship to the GCC. If you have a question, Message us on WhatsApp.