Our beekeeping practices
Science and nature working together
Honey is nature's superfood and a precious commodity. It takes 12 bees their entire lifetime to make one teaspoon of honey. We believe in sustainably managing our hives for the long-term health of the bees, and using the best modern practices to ensure a high-quality product that retains all its natural goodness.
Here are some of the things that set Nature's Secret apart:
1. Careful hive placement
We have access to large tracts of native forest and conservation land where our bees can make the most of the Manuka, flax and other flowers that bloom each year. But we don't over-crowd our sites, so each hive has the chance to thrive.
2. Well nourished bees
We always aim to feed our bees their own honey rather than rely on sugar syrup. Honey contains enzymes and other nutrients that bees can't obtain from sugar. When we do provide some sugar in spring to kick-start their growth in the new season, we add an organic bee nutrition tonic from Agrisea New Zealand. This provides trace elements, vitamins, minerals and amino acids derived from seaweed that are essential for bee health.
3. Lightly processed to retain its raw goodness
Our honey is not flash-heated or pasteurised, so it can still be defined as 'raw.' Extreme heat destroys some of the active ingredients in honey and reduces its potency. Likewise, we don't filter out all the pollens, so you can enjoy the goodness of New Zealand honey in its natural state.
4. Independently tested and certified
Once the honey is extracted it is analysed by an independent laboratory to confirm and certify its quality. Our Manuka honey 85+ methylgloxal (MG) has a minimum of 85mg/kg of MG in the jar. This is the naturally occurring compound found in Manuka honey that ensures its unique, health-giving qualities.
