, where an orange is different to a lemon, scoparium honey. While this difference would not be readily identified Leptospermum scoparium is different to all the other species that come by consumers, the nutritional values between the two honeys would be under the broader Leptospermum genus. expected to differ as there are significant differences in the protein and In Australia, there are many other much more common lipid composition of pollens collected from various plant species. Leptospermum species growing amongst the Leptospermum scoparium plants, Considerable work has been completed on the chemical profiles of including those in Tasmania. It is highly unlikely that honeybees would Australian and New Zealand honeys. This means that it is reasonably differentiate between theLeptospermum species and selectively target straightforward to distinguish the two honey types. Of particular Leptospermum scoparium. interest is the elevated levels of 2-methoxybenzoic acid which is Mānuka When compared side by universally found in side, the honey derived from Australian Leptospermum predominantly Leptospermum “There are easily recognizable honeys. It is a well-known scoparium – the Mānuka bittering agent used by tree – in New Zealand is physical and visual differences” the food manufacturing very different to the honey industries. In fact, research derived from the collection of shows that the standard Honey Australian Leptospermum plants. There are easily recognizable physical consumer response to consuming Australian Leptospermum honey is and visual differences, along with chemical and, very probably, one of distaste due to a strong bitter flavour. A review of Australian bioactive differences. beekeepers’ journals demonstrates that their Leptospermum honey, The physical and visual differences are perhaps the easiest to historically called tea-tree or jellybush honey, was not a sought-after or understanding Leptospermum spot. In fact, these are so pronounced that most consumers would be desirable crop, and beekeepers traditionally avoided placing able to tell the difference between the two honey types, if hives in districts where Leptospermum honey was these were viewed next to one another. Australian harvested. from Leptospermum scoparium Leptospermum honey has a universally darker The Australian honey industry has colour compared to Mānuka Honey from not historically produced what it now New Zealand, which has a lighter more often calls ‘Australian manuka’ natural looking hue. honey. The first frequent use of The Australian Leptospermum honey ‘Australian manuka’ occurred is also more prone to forming flowers around 2015, after which point in new zealand the Leptospermum scoparium plant of crystal after it has been sitting for a it became more commonly period of time on a retail shelf. This used. is called the Mānuka tree. It is a plant that sits within is primarily due to differences in the To help illustrate chemical constituents in the honey another important point, it the larger ‘genus’ (group) of Leptospermum plants of which is driven by floral source. is worthwhile looking at two For example, in Australia one of other well-known honeys in which there are currently over 80 different species the main nectar sources are the many New Zealand. Pohutakawa honey Eucalyptus genus which are found amongst is harvested from the Metrosiderous recognised. Most of these different species are found the other plants that grow there. Eucalypt excelsa plant – common name plants are widespread and common, forming Pohutakawa – which is found primarily in Australia. Only one of the Leptospermum genus - an integral part of the landscape. They produce in the Auckland region. Rata honey is nectar with high levels of sugar and are, therefore, very harvested from the Metrosiderous umbellata plant Leptospermum scoparium - naturally occurs in New attractive to honeybees. Eucalypt honey has been harvested – common name Rata – in the Westland province of in Australia since the introduction of European honeybees and is New Zealand. These honeys are similar in appearance and command Zealand. It is found throughout the country in large marketed as various mono-floral honey types. Eucalypt honey has a a higher price compared to standard pasture type and bush blends. unique chemical signature marker that has been scientifically defined. Due to codex labelling regulations, it would be fraudulent to sell in It also has a distinct flavour. As these species are common, attractive New Zealand Rata honey as Pohutukawa. Doing so would mislead stands. Leptospermum scoparium is also found in to honey bees and widespread, all Australian ‘bush’ honey is expected consumers and would be regarded as an illegal practice. to carry a proportion of Eucalypt honey. Because of the Eucalypt The question, therefore, remains: Why have some operators in Australia - most typically in Tasmania, and more honeys’ characteristics, this presence is readily detected by consumers the Australian honey industry decided to adopt the name ‘Australian through taste. manuka’ for Leptospermum honey, given that the honeys are distinct, and rarely in Victoria and southern New South Wales. Honey is a complex mixture of many natural components. those differences are readily detected by consumers? The mixture is influenced primarily by the flower source visited by The decision to do so is clearly not supported by science, is honeybees. As a result, the pollen load in Australian Leptospermum misleading and, at worst, could be cynically viewed as an attempt to honey is very different to that of the New ZealandLeptospermum deceive consumers. •